2022 Epsom Oaks Day Tips and Preview – DS
2022 Epsom Oaks Day Preview
We have already posted two ante-post tips for the Oaks and Derby. If you haven’t already, you can see them here. It was a mixed bag for us on Saturday. Attagirl needed the run and Flame Of Freedom never landed a blow. Corporate Raider remains a work in progress but he has ability. Gabrial The Wire looked a non-trier. At least we got a couple of places with Your Spirit (33s) and Universal Order (28s). Hopefully, we can do better tomorrow, check out Dave Stevos’ 2022 Epsom Oaks Day tips below.
2.00 – Woodcote Stakes (Class 2)
An open looking start to proceeding on Oaks Day. A dozen juveniles will go to post in the 6f sprint and the one I am interested in at big odds is Kessaar Power. Trained by Stan Moore, I thought this son of Kessaar ran a massive race on his debut at Chepstow (5f gd/fm). He broke well from the gates and John Egan had him up with the early pace. They went a proper gallop and Moore’s charge showed plenty of speed.
As they approached the 2f pole Kessaar Power was sitting in around 4th just behind the leaders. It looked like Egan still had plenty of horse under him but as they entered the last 1.5f he seemed to get a bit outpaced. The winner, Brave Emperor, made his challenge on our selection’s outside and actually forced Egan to stop riding and switch inside the furlong pole. Once he found daylight he picked up again and he was only 2.75L behind the winner at the line.
On that evidence, stepping up to 6f will be a big help for this fella. The winner of that Chepstow race landed a Novice under a penalty next time out so there is some substance to the form. On pedigree he should be even more effective with a bit of cut in the ground and he should have enough speed to capitalise on his good draw in stall 2. 33/1 looks too big to me and at those odds, Kessaar Power is worth chancing e/w.
2022 Epsom Oaks Day Tips: Kessaar Power e/w @ 33/1 (4 places Betfair/Betway/B365) NB
2.35 – World Pool Handicap (Class 2)
Last year we backed Corazon Espinado to win this race and he delivered the goods. Simon Dow targets races at this track and he is back to try and repeat the trick with this 7yo off just a 1lb higher mark. This son of Iffraaj loves it at Epsom. He has won four turf races during his career and they all came on this racecourse.
Last year he had a busy campaign during the winter on the all-weather before pitching up and winning this race. This time, he only ran three times in November/December before he headed off on a break. His reappearance run was nothing to write home about but I wouldn’t be too worried about that. He obviously needed it and it was almost certainly a prep run to blow away the cobwebs ahead of his return to his favourite track.
Good/good to soft ground is absolutely perfect for this lad. Silvestre De Sousa is a good booking and he has form figures of 1434 when riding this horse. Dow had a welcome winner earlier this week and De Sousa is 4/26 with 10 Top 4s when riding for him. Corazon Espinado is drawn 16 of 16 but he was drawn 10 of 10 last year so that shouldn’t matter. He has form figures of 1231 over today’s C&D, hopefully he can add another 1 to that sequence tomorrow.
2022 Epsom Oaks Day Tips: Corazon Espinado e/w @ 12/1 (5 places B365)
3.10 – Coronation Cup (Group 1)
The first Group 1 on Derby and Oaks weekend is the Coronation Cup. Unfortunately, only six will go to post and even more unfortunately, the days of Pyledriver being a 16/1 or 20/1 shot have gone. The supremely talented son of Harbour Watch was never really given the recognition he deserved in his 3yo season. He was sent off at 18s when winning the King Edward at Ascot. Then, after an unlucky run in the Derby here, he was a very easy winner of the Great Voltigeur at 10/1.
Last season, he was 8/1 when winning this race, another mad price considering his form. Since then, the bookies have copped on to how good this horse is and he has gone on to run blinders when 2nd in the Hong Kong Vase and a close 4th in the Dubai Sheema Classic. On the figures, High Definition looks the biggest threat. However, Manobo can’t be ruled out given how dominant Charlie Appleby has been in stakes races in the UK this season. Living Legend might outrun his odds but if Pyledriver is on top form, he should win. We’ve earned enough from backing him in the past at big odds so I am happy to just watch him and cheer him on today. No bet.
2022 Epsom Oaks Day Tips: No Bet
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap (Class 2)
I’ve already mentioned that Simon Dow likes having winners at his local track and Arctician looks an intriguing runner for him here. Initially trained by Paddy Twomey in Ireland, Dow splashed out £35k for him at the Autumn Sales. Arctician had some pretty solid form as a 2yo. He was beat a neck in a Cork G3 (6f gd) and then he was 3rd in the G2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh (6f yld). After failing to win as juvenile, he then went close in a maiden on his return as a 3yo at Tipperary (7.5f sft). His final Irish start saw him beat 5L in another maiden on heavy and that was it.
On his first outing for Down he shed his maiden in a Wolverhampton Novice (7f st). Rated 88, his next four runs came in all weather handicaps and his last three runs have been hugely eye-catching. On each occasion he was beat nearly the exact same distance. His best effort came at Kempton in a class 2 off 85 (8f). Luke Morris took a big pull after he broke well, found trouble at the most crucial time and the way Arctician travelled and finished suggested that there was still plenty in the tank.
On his 2yo turf form this son of Dark Angel looks extremely well handicapped off 84 on his return to grass. A bit of an ease will suit him well and on that Kempton run and on his pedigree, stepping up to 10f looks the correct move. John Egan has ridden plenty of winners for Dow and at odds of 33/1, Arctician is the each way selection.
2022 Epsom Oaks Day Tips: Arctician e/w @ 33/1 (5 places Paddy Power/Betfair) NAP
4.30 – Cazoo Oaks (Group 1)
The big one. Just eleven fillies will go to post in this year’s Oaks and Emily Upjohn is a warm order for Gosden and Frankie. She has looked very talented on all three of her starts and she has yet to taste defeat. As I stated in my ante-post preview, the only concern is the trip. Connections will be hoping that Sea The Stars has injected plenty of stamina because there is a distinct lack of it on the dam side of her page. Only two favourites have won this since Sariska in 2009 and I am hoping for another upset.
Since I tipped up Moon De Vega, her Chester run has since been boosted by the runner up, Above The Curve. She went and won a G1 at Longchamp next time out. The rain that has fallen will be in Moon De Vega’s favour and Rossa Ryan replaces our ‘friend’ Rob Hornby in the saddle. Given what Above The Curve did, Thoughts of June is probably overpriced too at 16s but I am happy to stick with my original selection. Hopefully, she gets a clear run this time and there are no excuses.
