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Secret Gesture favored in Oaks; Dunaden to face St Nick in Coronation Cup Ralph Beckett, who won the Group 1 Oaks in 2008 with Look Here, is set to be double-handed in the May 31 renewal with Secret Gesture, Coral's 5-2 favorite, and Talent. "We properly realized what we had with Secret Gesture after she won her maiden at Newbury," Beckett said. "She's quite a narrow, light-framed filly and we hadn't done a lot with her. But she's been straightforward all of her life. "Look Here got into a flap in the paddock before she won the Oaks, but this filly should be fine. I hope she's special, but I'm not brave enough to say that just yet. "She hasn't done much since Lingfield (her 10-length romp in the Oaks Trial) but will work in the morning on the grass. Jim Crowley, who has ridden her in all races, will be on board. "Richard Hughes will ride Talent at Epsom and he is coming down to us to ride her in the morning as well. "She has done very well since (winning) the Pretty Polly Stakes, both physically and in her work, and if she was my only runner I'd be looking forward to the race," Beckett added. "She's well-balanced, will handle the track and her pedigree says she will stay." Sir Michael Stoute has the unbeaten Liber Nauticus in the Oaks. "She has just cantered in front of me on Warren Hill," Stoute reported. "She is stretching well and is a fine, big athlete who does very little at home. She was very green in her Goodwood race last year and she did well when winning the Musidora (at York last week). "She wasn't spectacular or anything, but that is never going to be her style. I think the race will have mentally sharpened her up for the Oaks. "We have a got a good chance in the Oaks with her." The Michael Bell-trained The Lark galloped ahead of stable companion Madame Defarge, and both are likely to run in the fillies' classic. "The Lark has come on a lot from her run at Newbury (third in the Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial), which we knew she would," Bell said. "She needs plenty of work and will improve significantly for that run. "She's bred to stay and be here -- she's a three-parts sister to Sariska (the 2009 Oaks heroine). "I've got to speak to her owner Carole Bamford but I would love to give it a go and run. I'd be keen to roll the dice." Jamie Spencer will take over at the helm on The Lark. "I'd had nothing to do with The Lark before today and not thought much about her," Spencer said, "but I'd be happier and look forward to next week after riding her today. She obviously has to improve on form." Bell also thinks a lot of Madame Defarge. "Madame Defarge is gorgeous-looking, she has bags of scope and is bred to stay. She got squeezed on the rail and was very unlucky when running over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket (when third to Talent). "She's like (her sire) Motivator in that she doesn't need much work. Tom Queally rode her today and he won on her at Yarmouth. "Both fillies have to step up on what they have done, but I think they are capable of that." Trainer Hughie Morrison confirmed that he is set to supplement Cheshire Oaks heroine Banoffee for the Oaks at a cost of £30,000 on Saturday. "If the wheels stay on between now and Saturday then she'll be supplemented," Morrison said. "She's never been over-expressive in her work or movement and, as our grass gallops have not been up to scratch this year because of the weather, we have never tested how good she is at home. She only ran two weeks ago at Chester so we haven't done too much with her since. "I think that if you have a filly that wins one of the trials then you have to go for the Oaks. It's the most important race for fillies in this country. Kieren Fallon is available and keen to ride." Aidan O'Brien is likely to have two runners as he bids for a fifth Oaks success. "The plan is for Snow Queen to go to the Irish One Thousand Guineas on Sunday and for both Moth and Say to run in the Oaks." O'Brien also had word of St Nicholas Abbey, who will bid for an unprecedented third success in the Group 1 Coronation Cup on Derby Day, June 1. "St Nicholas Abbey is in good shape. He's had a day away and everything is good so far," O'Brien said of Coral's 4-7 favorite.
"Obviously, St Nicholas Abbey is the one to beat but, the way Dunaden won the Caulfield Cup, I think he'll give him a good race. He is not a two-miler -- he won the Melbourne Cup with his class. He is a mile and a half horse rather than a stayer. "He's been our flagship horse for Pearl Bloodstock and he helped my brothers get involved in racing. We set up Qatar Racing after that so we owe the horse a lot for that." Spencer has confidence in Dunaden. "Dunaden is a lovely horse with a great record and has done things a lot of horses can't do," his rider said. "I presume it will be a small field and I respect St Nicholas Abbey hugely, but the boss likes a challenge and we'll take him on." Epsom Downs' Director of Racing Andrew Cooper gave an update on the course condition. "If we were racing today, I would call the ground good and I'm pleased with where we are," Cooper said. "I'd be very pleased to start the meeting on ground like this. The intention is not to run the Derby on anything quicker than good-to-firm. "We could have some showers today then rain tomorrow and there is a mixed forecast next week. At the moment, it is looking like it should be mainly dry with possible sunny spells and temperatures of 16 to 17 degrees (Celsius) for the Derby Festival." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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