Fleeting Bids to Build on Oaks Third in Ribblesdale

In the last two years what was once perceived wisdom has been turned on its head. Trainers Aidan O'Brien and William Haggas want to keep it turning.

It was generally felt running in the Investec Oaks (G1) was damaging to the claims of any filly who went on to the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2), yet Coronet in 2017 and Magic Wand last season landed the group 2 prize having taken minor money at Epsom.

This time O'Brien, who also trained Magic Wand, is hoping for a similar outcome June 20 with Oaks third Fleeting, last week supplemented to the 1 1/2-mile Ribblesdale for 3-year-old fillies at a cost of £17,000 (US$21,314).

O'Brien, who also saddles Peach Tree, said: "We were delighted with Fleeting at Epsom. She hasn't done a whole lot since the Oaks but seems in good form at home and we're very happy with her.

"Peach Tree only ran the other day at Cork and ran well. We always thought a mile and a half would suit her and that's the way it has turned out."

Frankellina, sixth in the Oaks and a dead-heat runner-up by a neck in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (G3) last month, is scratched.

Sir Michael Stoute is famed for his patience and seeing the bigger picture, an approach the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history must hope will lead to the owners of Queen Power soon owning a big picture of the filly winning at Royal Ascot.

After taking a recognized Oaks trial at Newbury, Queen Power received classic quotes from bookmakers but, guided by Stoute's advice, King Power Racing chose to bypass Epsom and aim the daughter of Shamardal at the Ribblesdale Stakes.

That Newbury effort came over 1 1/4 miles, while Silvestre de Sousa's mount had started her campaign with a close second at Ascot over a mile, so the Ribblesdale distance provides a new test, as does the rain-softened ground.

"She's a very exciting filly and I wouldn't swap her," said King Power racing manager Alastair Donald. "Things went against her at Newbury but she still won. It was then a pretty straightforward decision to miss the Oaks as the race just came too quick. The French Oaks was then debated but Sir Michael has high hopes for the filly and wasn't keen to travel her so early in her career.

"The testing ground is definitely an unknown but her three-parts brother Zabeel Prince does go on it. I think she will as well—it's maybe more a question of the distance and the ground combined."

John Gosden will spend a lot of time saddling horses before the Ribblesdale Stakes, in which he boasts four of the 11 entered—but which one has the best chance?

Given Sparkle Roll is part-owned by Qatar Racing she was always going to be partnered by Oisin Murphy. The stable's No. 1 rider Frankie Dettori is aboard Star Catcher—third to Queen Power at Newbury—with No. 2 jockey Rab Havlin on Shambolic and Andrea Atzeni linking up with Fanny Logan.

"They all represent different owners and have each-way chances, so it made sense to give it a go," Gosden said. "We were going to send Fanny Logan to the Italian Oaks but didn't fancy sending her all the way there in (the) heat, so she's staying here. She ran well at Chester and should handle the ground.

"We've had this race in mind for Shambolic for a while and she's on an upward curve.

"Sparkle Roll didn't like the fast ground in the Musidora at York last time and this surface should be fine for her, while we've had this race in mind for Star Catcher since she won her maiden at Newbury in April."

He is only 31 years old, has only 10 horses in training, and has never previously run a horse at Ascot. Despite all that, it is entirely possible County Meath's Jack Davison could have the Ribblesdale winner in his yard.

That horse is Fresnel, last seen finishing one place behind Frankellina when she placed fourth in the Musidora Stakes.

"She's ready to rock and we're very excited—we're just trying to curtail that excitement at the moment," Davison said. "She's in tip-top shape and has come forward nicely since York. Her work has been great and she's traveled over very well."

Rather more accustomed to big-race success is Joseph O'Brien, whose hopes rest here with Altair.

"It's obviously a much stronger race than the one she won at Gowran Park but she ran well in a stakes race at Navan that has worked out well and the step up in trip should suit her," he said.

The line-up is completed by the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Japanese-bred Love So Deep, who was third in the Height of Fashion Stakes in May at Goodwood.