By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Park Express Stakes fifth Cameo (Wootton Bassett) benefitted greatly from a jump up in trip and entered G1 Oaks calculations with a powerful display, and a fourth success for Aidan O'Brien, in Saturday's Listed William Hill Oaks Trial at Lingfield.
“Today was the first time I've ridden her,” said Ryan Moore. “She's a scopey filly, she handled the track well and did everything right. She picked up from a long way out and kept going. She is a filly that will get better as the year progresses. She will keep improving and you never know where they can end up, but I love everything she did today.”
Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong, who was on duty at Naas, added, “She was very impressive and got a lovely trail into it. In fairness to her, when Ryan asked her to knuckle down, she went away. Wayne [Lordan] rode her the first day at the Curragh and felt going up in trip and better ground would suit, and those were the two factors she got today. She is a lovely, big, strong, imposing filly and she is bang in the Oaks mix now.”
The 10-3 joint-second favourite, and choice of Moore to extend Ballydoyle's hot streak, occupied a handy slot in third for most of the extended 11-furlong trip. Easing into second in early straight, she seized control approaching the final quarter-mile and ran on strongly once in front to easily overpower Prizeland (Territories) by 4 3/4 lengths.
The winner's stablemate Bloom (Wootton Bassett) set the pace into the straight and kept on well once headed to finish 2 1/2 lengths back in third, while 11-8 favourite Romantic Symphony (Dubawi) was unable to make an impact in fourth.
Cameo took three attempts to shed maiden status, doing so over seven furlongs at the Curragh in October, and closed her juvenile season with a fourth back there in the one-mile G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes. She returned this term to run fifth, tackling a deep conditions, over one mile again in the Curragh's G3 Park Express Stakes last time.
The Ballydoyle bandwagon rolls on! 🤩
Cameo stars in the William Hill Oaks Trial for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien! 🌟@LingfieldPark pic.twitter.com/LTovmbjOh4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Cameo is the third of five foals and one of two winners out of G2 Debutante Stakes third Zagitova (Galileo). Her dam, who was bred to Justify last year, has also produced stakes-winning G1 Criterium International third Portland (Dubawi) and a yearling filly by Justify.
Zagitova is a half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Garswood (Dutch Art) and a granddaughter of G3 Brownstown Stakes runner-up and stakes-winning matriarch Irresistible (Cadeaux Genereux).
Descendants of the winner's second dam Penchant (Kyllachy) include G2 Temple Stakes runner-up Ainsdale (Mayson) and G3 Prix Imprudence second Ghoufrann (Oasis Dream).
Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
WILLIAM HILL OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' STAKES-Listed, £60,000, Lingfield, 5-9, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT, 2:28.80, g/f.
1–CAMEO (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Zagitova (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Penchant (GB), by Kyllachy (GB)
3rd Dam: Irresistible (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 6-2-0-1, $67,129. *1/2 to Portland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), SW & GSP-Ire, G1SP-Fr, GSP-Aus, GSP-Eng, $149,569.
2–Prizeland (GB), 128, f, 3, Territories (Ire)–Sensationally (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (80,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Mrs M E Wates; B-Meon Valley Stud; T-Andrew Balding. £12,900.
3–Bloom (Ire), 128, f, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Laburnum (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore; T-Aidan O'Brien. £6,456.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2HF, 7HF. Odds: 3.33, 8.50, 3.33.
Also Ran: Romantic Symphony (Ire), Amora Queen (Ger).
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