Connections of Midday are hoping the filly will be good enough to give trainer Henry Cecil another Classic triumph in the Investec Oaks next Friday.
The daughter of Oasis Dream was successful in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, putting her to the forefront of the betting for the Epsom showpiece. And although stamina doubts remain, Cecil appears to have a solid chance of winning the Oaks for an eighth time, two years after Light Shift gave the master of Warren Place an emotional return to the famous winners' circle.
"Midday worked really well yesterday and is definitely an intended runner," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Midday's owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah.
"Oasis Dream (sire) has produced horses who do stay and there is stamina on the dam's side. She handled Lingfield well. She is in good nick and has been around Epsom when she was second to Debussy.
"Henry is positive, and he has trained eight Oaks winners already. She is very straightforward and genuine, with a bit of class."
Favourite with most firms is Michael Bell's Sariska after her visually impressive performance in the Musidora at York.
"She is in very good form. She worked yesterday, where Jamie Spencer rode her over nine furlongs with a lead horse and she has taken the Musidora really well," said Bell.
"She has a fantastic pedigree, she is bred to stay a mile and a half and the way she galloped away at York suggests a mile and half should suit her even better than a mile and a quarter.
"She did one canter this morning and will canter again tomorrow and over the weekend, then maybe have a little blowout on Tuesday."
Posts
