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10 Apr 2019

Safety in numbers for Aidan O’Brien as Investec Oaks entries revealed

Just Wonderful is among O’Brien’s 19 entries for the Oaks. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Aidan O’Brien is responsible for no fewer than 19 of the 60 entries for the 2019 Group One Investec Oaks at Epsom.

The 12-furlong Classic, which forms part of the Fillies & Mares category of the QIPCO British Champion Seris, is the highlight on day one of the Investec Derby Festival on May 31 and carries a total prize fund of at least £500,000.

O’Brien is seeking a remarkable eighth Oaks victory and his contenders include Hermosa, who chased home Iridessa in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, and impressive Group 2 Rockfel Stakes scorer Just Wonderful. Promising maiden winners Chablis and Pink Dogwood are also engaged.


Dual Investec Oaks-winning handler Ralph Beckett has three talented entries for owner Waverley Racing, all sired by Lope De Vega.

The unbeaten Manuela De Vega defeated the boys in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract in October, while Antonia De Vega captured the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. Impressive Doncaster maiden scorer Dancing Vega completes the trio.

The pick of the three French-trained entries is Camelot filly Wonderment, who has not been seen out since defeating Sydney Opera House by a neck in the 10-furlong Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October, when she was the only filly in the nine-strong field.

Trainer Nicolas Clement revealed: “Wonderment has grown over the winter and looks a picture at the moment. I could not be happier with her.

“She was a Group One winner as a two-year-old, we have no doubts about her staying a mile and a half, and we think she will handle Epsom, which is why we decided to make the entry.

“She will start off in the Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud on May 1 and then depending on how she gets on there, we have the option of the Investec Oaks or the Prix de Diane.”

Andre Fabre is the most recent French trainer to have landed the Investec Oaks, courtesy of Intrepidity in 1993, and the handler has two entries this year in  Villa d’Amore and Tamniah, who are both twice-raced maiden winners.

Full Entries

ALTAIR (IRE), ANAPURNA,ANTONIA DE VEGA (IRE),BABA GHANOUJ (IRE),BLUE GARDENIA (IRE),CHABLIS (IRE),CORAL BEACH (IRE),CREDENZA (IRE),DAME MALLIOT, DANCING VEGA (IRE), DELPHINIA (IRE), DORAH, DUBAI BLUE (USA), EBBRAAM, ENTITLE, FABULIST, FIRE FLY (IRE), FLEETING (IRE), FLOWERING PEACH (IRE), FOUR LEAF CLOVER (IRE), FRANKELLINA, GODDESS (USA), GRACE AND DANGER (IRE), HAPPEN (USA) HERMOSA (IRE), I REMEMBER YOU (IRE), IRIDESSA (IRE), JUST WONDERFUL (USA), KING POWER, KVETUSCHKA, LADY ADELAIDE (IRE), LADY COSETTE (FR), LASTOCHKA, LAVENDER’S BLUE (IRE), MAGIC FOUNTAIN (USA), MALIKA I JAHAN (FR), MANNAAL (IRE), MANUELA DE VEGA (IRE), MAQSAD (FR), MONA LISA’S SMILE (USA), NAUSHA, PACIFICADORA (USA), PEACH TREE (IRE), PINK DOGWOOD (IRE), PRINCESS SALAMAH (IRE) QUEEN POWER (IRE), SEA OF FAITH (IRE), SECRET THOUGHTS (USA), SHAMBOLIC (IRE), SH BOOM, SPARKLE ROLL (FR), STAR CATCHER, STAR TERMS, TAMNIAH (FR), TARNAWA (IRE)
TAUTEKE, VILLA D’AMORE (IRE), VIVID DIAMOND (IRE),WONDERMENT (IRE), ZAGITOVA (IRE)