Savethelastdance Could Waltz Away Again in Betfred Oaks

Aidan O'Brien and John and Thady Gosden could complete a decade of Betfred Oaks (G1) dominance by the two powerhouse yards if successful, and the betting suggests the fillies' Classic could be heading to Ballydoyle for a fourth consecutive year June 2 courtesy of Savethelastdance .

O'Brien has struck with four of his 11 Oaks favorites, and market leader Savethelastdance will bid to enhance that statistic on the back of a 22-length demolition of the May 10 Cheshire Oaks.

Savethelastdance has shown versatility in her two wins from three starts, making most to win a Leopardstown fillies' maiden in April and coming from the rear to gallop clear in the Chester listed event, earning a top Racing Post Rating of 116.

She does have to prove her liking for a quick surface, with all three of her runs coming on soft or heavy ground, and O'Brien is intrigued to see how Ryan Moore's mount copes with faster conditions.

O'Brien said: "It was great to see what Savethelastdance did at Chester, and everything has gone well since. If you looked at her pedigree, you would think definitely not soft ground for her, and most Galileos and Scat Daddys would be the same.

"She was obviously able to cope with it well at Chester and it will be very interesting to see what she can do on totally different ground."

A third of O'Brien's 75 runners in the Oaks have finished in the first three and he is triple-handed with Lingfield trial second Be Happy , the mount of Seamie Heffernan, and the Wayne Lordan-ridden Red Riding Hood , who finished third in the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last time.

Frankie Dettori believes the race revolves around the top three in the betting and feels "all the signs are good" for his final Oaks mount Soul Sister  staying the 1 1/2-mile trip.

The Lady Bamford homebred failed to fire on soft ground in the Fred Darling Stakes (G3) at Newbury on her return in April, but she firmly entered the Classic reckoning with a four-length victory in the Musidora (G3) on good ground at York.

Dettori, a six-time Oaks winner, said: "I was impressed because my filly quickened twice. When she ran at Newbury it was heavy ground and John's horses were needing a race, but she clocked a good time at York and I was pleasantly surprised.

"Savethelastdance was very, very impressive at Chester and brings very good form. Of course, I'm going to be frightened by her, but we'll give it a go.

"She has to run an extra furlong and a half, but all the signs are good, she settled well and she finished the race strongly. To me there are only three fillies who can win it—Running Lion , Savethelastdance, and mine. The rest have got a big gap to bridge."

Taghrooda, Enable, and Anapurna have landed this race for the Gosdens since 2014, and none were favorites despite returning single-figure odds.

In Soul Sister and Running Lion, who arrives on the back of four straight wins, including in listed company at Newmarket last time, they have two strong contenders.

Thady Gosden said: "Soul Sister obviously did not handle the heavy ground on her return at Newbury, but she showed her class when winning the Musidora when she enjoyed the step up in trip and better ground. She's been in good form since and we're hopeful she will handle the track and the step up to a mile and a half.

"Running Lion has improved with her racing and shows a great attitude. She won the Pretty Polly at Newmarket, after which we took her to the Epsom morning gallops, where she seemed to handle the track well. She's been in good form since and we're hopeful she will give another good account."