Masked Marvel

MARKED MARVEL 
Thirteen years ago, Aidan O’Brien delivered Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) to follow up her win in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the G1 Epsom Oaks 12 days later, and he bids to repeat the trick with Marvellous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in today’s Investec-sponsored renewal run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil. Jumping up on her previous form when only sixth in the Mar. 30 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial, Derrick Smith’s colorbearer upstaged the Newmarket Guineas runner-upLightning Thunder (GB)(Dutch Art {GB}) by three lengths in that Curragh Classic, and sets the standard on that performance. Bred to appreciate further than that mile, she also has her favored ground with a slight ease to help her cause here, and is very much the one to beat.Joseph O’Brien is on board this time after deserting her in Kildare, and he said, “She won very well and you’d imagine she’ll get a mile-and-a-half. She handled heavy ground there but on nicer ground, we are hoping she might even step up again.” 

Coming Back To the Four… 
Godolphin last tasted success here in 2002 with Kazzia (Ger) (Zinaad {GB}) and attempt to bring the long wait for a fourth renewal to a close with the admirable Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal), another to enjoy the Kieren Fallon treatment alongside Derby protagonist True Story (GB) (Manduro {Ger}).Third in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 4, last year’s G3 Sweet Solera S. and G2 May Hill S. winner, who scored by 10 lengths in the G3 UAE Oaks over 10 furlongs on Meydan’s Tapeta Feb. 27, seems versatile, and her trainer is happy she will see out the mile-and-a-half here. “Ihtimal is a tough filly with a big heart,” he said. “She has improved physically since coming back to Newmarket from Dubai, and she ran a very good race in the 1000 Guineas. She is not the biggest filly, but has a big engine. She shows her class in her work, travels extremely well in her races and always relaxes. I think that a mile-and-a-half will be fine for her and I hope she copes with the course at Epsom Downs. Her last piece of work at the start of the week went nicely, and she is ready to go. Good ground would be better for her and I am very happy with her.” One who should relish this trip is Sir Thomas Pilkington’s supplementary Marsh Daisy (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), whose form is gaining credence every week. Her 10-furlong Ascot maiden win May 9 has been boosted by the subsequent impressive successes of the third Wonderstruck (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and fourth Rewaaya (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), respectively. She looked a powerful galloper on soft ground when taking Goodwood’s Listed Height of Fashion S. 13 days later and that prep, formerly known as the Lupe, was also collected by Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and Love Divine (GB) (Diesis {GB}) en route to glory here. 

Musidora Musings… 
York’s G3 Musidora S., like the Dante for the Derby, holds a prominent place in the established trials for this Classic, but the York contest has suffered of late with only two representatives going on to Oaks glory in Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells)–who was second there in 2006–and Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). This time, it is up to Kirsten Rausing’s Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko) to uphold the form of the race, and David Simcock’s unbeaten trainee has plenty of potential that is still untapped. “She handled the track very well [at the Breakfast With the Stars morning] and is very well-balanced and straightforward,” commented the trainer, who also saddles the May 10 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial third Momentus (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). “The forecast has come in our favor, as I would have been loathe to run her on fast ground here. It’s a very open race and a lot of the form has ifs, buts and maybes about it, so the fact that she will love the conditions and stay well will be in her favor.” Trainer Ralph Beckett, who is looking for a third edition, re-opposes Madame Chiang with the Musidora third Regardez (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB) from the immediate family of his 2008 heroine Look Here (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), and the supplemented Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Honor Bound (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). “Both Regardez and Honor Bound are in good shape and I am very happy with their wide draws on the basis that Secret Gesture (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was compromised by her inside draw last year,” their conditioner explained. “They would handle more give in the ground than is likely to be the case–I think it will be good ground, which means there are no excuses for anybody. Honor Bound’s work last week was good, and although I doubt that her Lingfield Oaks win represents strong form, she was very keen through the race and did not exactly get a charmed trip. She did not have the rub of the green yet she still won, so you could rate her a bit better than the bare result. [Regardez] is not that different in temperament or demeanor to Look Here. Every day was a good day as far as she was concerned, and this filly is the same. We are rolling the dice with her and I think that is the right thing to do. When she was third in the Musidora S. she chased a strong pace and then looked like getting swamped before galloping out strongly to the line.” Splitting Madame Chiang and Regardez at York was Lily Rules (Ire) (Aussie Rules), another of the four supplementary entries, and Norton-based trainer Tony Coyle is hoping she can be the latest in a line of outsiders to get in the frame in the Epsom Classics. “She’s entitled to go down [to Epsom], she ran a blinder at York,” he said. “It cost us a few quid to put her in but like the owner said to me, we might never have a chance to run another filly in the Oaks again.”