Aidan O’Brien has dominated the early stages of the Flat season and can continue his golden run through Rhododendron in the Investec Oaks (4.30) at Epsom today.
O’Brien saddled Churchill and Winter to land the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas respectively at Newmarket, sending both horses to repeat victories in the Irish equivalents at the Curragh last month.
Rhododendron was sent off a warm favourite for the 1,000 Guineas but did not get the clearest of runs as her stablemate was striking for home and could never land a blow.
The way that she stayed on once in the clear there suggested that Rhododendron would improve for this longer trip, while her breeding adds weight to that idea, as she is a daughter of Galileo while her dam won the ten-furlong Nassau Stakes.
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Her Guineas run makes her the form pick here and, open to plenty of improvement now that her stamina is brought into play, Rhododendron looks a worthy favourite to give her trainer a third successive win in this Classic.
Godolphin have diverted Sobetsu from the French Oaks to this race and she looked a top-class filly when winning in group one company at Deauville 19 days ago.
She, too, should have no problem with this longer trip, but she was a well-beaten fifth behind Rhododendron in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last October.
John Gosden saddles two live contenders in Coronet and Enable. The former was given too much to do when third to Sobetsu at Deauville and should get closer to that rival over this longer trip, while Enable landed the Cheshire Oaks in fine style and is still improving.
O’Brien can also claim the Investec Coronation Cup (3.10) with Highland Reel. He landed both the King George and Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, so there is no doubting his quality, and he should be sharper for a reappearance run in Meydan in March.
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For good measure, O’Brien also runs last year’s Derby second and third, US Army Ranger and Idaho. They, too, should run well but the biggest threat to Highland Reel comes from the progressive Gosden-trained mare Journey. She gained a first group one success in terrific fashion when winning by four lengths at Ascot last October and should make a bold bid to become the first of her sex to land this prize since In The Groove in 1991.
Gosden can enjoy better fortune with Remarkable in the Investec Click & Invest Mile Handicap (2.35). He shaped with plenty of promise on his return to action in the Victoria Cup at Ascot, travelling well for a long way on what turned out to be the unfavoured centre of the track before fading in the closing stages. He will be sharper with that behind him and can prove a cut above this field.
• Rob Wright enjoyed a highly successful time in May, winning the Racing Post’s National Press Challenge for the month with ease. He was the only tipster to record a profit over the month, showing a profit of £24.81 to a £1 stake on all bets. He has also opened up a clear lead in the Racing Post Naps Table, with a profit of £22.43 on his nap selections during the Flat season.