Epsom Oaks Day

It's the start of the Derby meeting at Epsom this afternoon, but first of all the ladies have their turn in the Oaks and it looks to be an intriguing contest with The Fugue and Maybe vying for favouritism.  Aidan O'Brien has already won the first two English Classics of the season and if he could land the Oaks today, he would be a very short price to complete a clean sweep of the Classics this season with Camelot a short-priced favourite for tomorrow's Derby and the St Leger.  Interestingly I see that Frankie Dettori is not riding Godolphin's filly in the Oaks and that Godolphin don't have a representative at all in the Derby - it will be strange watching the Epsom Classics without Frankie being involved.

Talking of the Derby, I see that there are only nine runners declared for the big one - that is the smallest field for 105 years!  With the sixth horse home collecting over £17,000 in prize money I bet there are a few of the smaller owners wishing they had left their horse in the race.  Of course, £17,000 is a long way removed from the £751,000 that the winner will collect, not to mention the prospective value of the horse at stud at the end of his racing career.  From a spectators point of view, I just wish there were a few more runners.

It was good to see Carlton House win at Sandown for Her Majesty The Queen last night.  The colt won £31,000 which will help with the Jubilee Celebrations next week!  However, I thought that the performance of the day belonged to the Godolphin owned Opinion Poll who won the Group 3 over two miles with plenty in hand.  He would have made a seriously good staying hurdler, mind you Godolphin do not have that many over the sticks!

Ride of the day belonged to Tom O'Brien for his effort aboard Calusa Caldera who beat Scotsbrook Cloud in a driving finish - the two horses gave their all and the jockeys were both seen to great effect.

*****

I wasn't sure what a friend of mine meant when he told me that Andy Murray got off his back to win in the French Open at Roland Garros yesterday.  It was only when I watched the replay of the match that I realised that Murray's trainer must have magic hands - if I ever suffer from back problems, it is him that I would want to see.  The way that Murray laid down on the court, he didn't look like he would ever play again, let alone win!