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Twelve set for Oaks at Epsom Roz is all set to be a first Oaks runner for trainer Harry Dunlop who hopes that Johnny Murtagh will ride the three-year-old in the fillies' classic on Friday, the first day of the Derby Festival at Epsom. Twelve fillies go for the Group 1, £426,250 Oaks, run over 1 1/2 miles, following Saturday's six-day confirmation and supplementary entry stage. As expected, Banoffee has been supplemented at a cost of £30,000 by trainer Hughie Morrison following her impressive success in the Cheshire Oaks on May 8, when she had the John Gosden-trained Gertrude Versed in second. Heading the market at 5-2 with Coral, official betting partner of the 2013 Derby Festival, is Secret Gesture, one of two entries going forward for trainer Ralph Beckett. The three-year-old daughter of Galileo was a facile 10-length winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield Park on May 11. Beckett's other entry is Talent, who also made a winning start to the season when taking the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on May 5. Beckett won the 2008 Oaks with Look Here. Liber Nauticus, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, became very prominent in the Oaks betting after winning the Musidora Stakes at York on May 15 and is unbeaten in two starts. Roz, sired by Teofilo, put up her best performance of 2012 when second in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in late September. She reappeared this year in the first British fillies' classic, the One Thousand Guineas, over a mile at Newmarket on May 5 when she finished 10th of 15 to Sky Lantern. The Dunlop family has a strong connection with the Oaks, with Harry's father John saddling Circus Plume (1984) and Salsabil (1990) to victory, while the 2004 scorer Ouija Board and the 2010 winner Snow Fairy were trained by his brother Ed. "The plan is to run Roz in the Oaks," Harry Dunlop revealed. "She has been fine since the Guineas and has come on a lot for the run. "They went a bit too quick for her at Newmarket and I'm hoping the longer distance in the Oaks will suit her. It was still an encouraging run at Newmarket but going that half a stride slower will give us a chance to get involved. "I don't think the course will hold any fears for her. I have been doing some work with her here on undulating gallops and she has obviously run at the Rowley Mile with that dip in there. I know that's nothing like Epsom and, although we are trying to do everything possible, we won't know until she tries it. "I think the Oaks is very open. Obviously, there are the top four or five but the likes of ourselves have every chance to be there. "Ralph Beckett's filly (Secret Gesture) looks the best on what we have seen but ultimately Sir Michael Stoute's filly (Liber Nauticus) could improve and then you have Moth for Aidan O'Brien. "Hopefully, Johnny Murtagh will ride Roz. It's a possibility and we have spoken to his agent and fingers crossed that's who we have got. "I wouldn't count on it until we have declared her but hopefully that is the plan. Johnny has won the Oaks before and the Derby three times so there is no better man than him around Epsom." O'Brien, seeking a fifth Oaks victory, has retained three entries, headed by One Thousand Guineas third Moth. She is likely to be joined by stablemate Say, runaway winner of a 12-furlong maiden at Cork on May 10, while Snow Queen goes for Sunday's Irish One Thousand Guineas at the Curragh. Michael Bell, successful with Sariska in 2009, is likely to be doubly represented by The Lark, who is out of a half-sister to Sariska, and Madame Defarge, who was third behind Talent at Newmarket. Completing the possible line-up for the 2013 Oaks is Miss You Too, a David Simcock trainee who was second to Secret Gesture at Lingfield. Dubaya, Masarah and Planete Bleue were all taken out of the field on Saturday. Day Two of the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs takes place next Saturday and features Britain's richest race and premier classic, the Derby, and the Coronation Cup. The going description at Epsom Downs changed Saturday morning to good, good to soft in places from good after 9 millimeters of rain Friday. Andrew Cooper, head of racing and clerk of the course at Epsom, gave an update on the ground. "It is generally on the slower side of good, and I am pleased with the condition of the course," Cooper said Saturday. "Today, tomorrow and Monday are meant to be dry and at the moment we are forecast an unsettled spell on Tuesday and Wednesday." For more information, visit the Road to the Derby microsite, www.theroadtothederby.co.uk. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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