Rematch for Oaks winners

[NoChanceToDance]

by Lee Mottershead
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THE coronation of Europe's leading middle-distance filly could finally take place at Goodwood next month after the prospect of a deciding clash between Oaks heroines Peeping Fawn and Light Shift increased on Monday.

With honours even between the two Classic winners, bragging rights are set to go to whichever one comes out on top in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes, in which an enthralling rematch now seems ever more likely.

After Peeping Fawn avenged her Epsom defeat by Light Shift with a resounding win in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks, trainer Aidan O'Brien identified the Nassau as his charge's preferred next port of call, with stablemate Alexandrova bound for the Yorkshire Oaks.

The Goodwood Group 1 - in which Britain's Ouija Board thwarted Ireland's Alexander Goldrun in what many considered the defining race of the 2006 Flat season - was also identified on Monday as the favoured option for Vodafone Oaks winner Light Shift, whose Irish eclipse was attributed to the testing ground at the Curragh.

Confirming Light Shift to be "fine" following her weekend exertions, trainer Henry Cecil said: "What we do now depends on the ground and how she is, but I'd be happy to take on Peeping Fawn again on decent ground.

"On the sort of ground we had at the Curragh, we wouldn't be able to beat her, but on decent ground I think it would be close. "She's not a machine, so I can't say for definite where she will run next, but if she's okay to run at Goodwood she will go for the Nassau and, if she's not ready in time for Goodwood, she will wait for the Yorkshire Oaks.

"She's fine over a mile and a quarter, and the course at Goodwood would suit her. If the two fillies meet again in the Nassau, there shouldn't be a lot between them."

Reflecting on the Irish Oaks - in which Peeping Fawn achieved the same Racing Post Rating of 120 that Light Shift notched at Epsom - Cecil added: "She ran really well but she just could not handle the ground.

“When wewere flying into Ireland I could see water lying on the fields, so it was obviously very bad.

"She struggled all through the race, but she was very game and still ran a very good race. The good thing was that Ted was not hard on her once it was obvious she could not win."

Among the two Oaks winners' opponents at Goodwood could be dual Royal Ascot scorer Nannina, while Irish 1,000 Guineas fourth Alexander Tango is also being considered for Goodwood, having pleased trainer Tommy Stack with her Listedsuccess at the Curragh on Sunday.

Stack's son Fozzy said: "She needed the race because she hadn't had one for a long time, and we are half-thinking about going for the Nassau at Goodwood - it would have been a big break from the Irish Guineas to Goodwood.”


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If this years race can be half as good as last year it will be fantastic.

[_ed_]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

If this years race can be half as good as last year it will be fantastic.

Very true!

Exciting to have both Oaks winners in there, a nice little rivalry forming between those two. I'd like to see Silkwood run against them though, I think she could possibly be better than both. Only one way to find out!

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Very true!

Exciting to have both Oaks winners in there, a nice little rivalry forming between those two. I'd like to see Silkwood run against them though, I think she could possibly be better than both. Only one way to find out!

I agree about silkwood possibly being better than both on fast ground over 12 furlongs, but i don't think she would be as good over 10 furlongs, especially at Goodwood. I think 10 furlongs on fast ground could be Light Shift's best distance actually, she has a great turn of foot and you would think it was be more of an advantage over 10 furlongs than it would be over 12. Although Peeping Fawn is a very nice horse, she is a true stayer in my opinion. At Epsom all she did was stay on and at the weekend the ground was so soft, she just powered through it. I'm not sure the drop in trip would suit her.