O'Brien and Gosden favoured to extend domination of Epsom Oaks

Mark Smith - Friday June 3

For the best part of a decade, Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden have carved up the Epsom Oaks, and it's likely to be a similar story when the classic takes place in the early hours of Saturday morning (eastern Australian time).

John Gosden and his son Thady have the favourite Emily Upjohn and likely second favourite Nashwa.

A daughter of Sea The Stars, Emily Upjohn has won all three starts, most recently a five and a half-length romp in the Group III Musidora Stakes at York.

Emily Upjohn (image Racing Post)

Emily Upjohn is out of the stakes-placed Barathea mare Hidden Brief a sister to Hazarist, who placed in the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. Hidden Brief is a three-quarter sister to the dam of Epsom Derby and Irish Derby winner Harzand, who, like Emily Upjohn, is by Sea The Stars.

Frankie Dettori rides Emily Upjohn while Hollie Doyle is on stablemate Nashwa.

A daughter of Frankel, Nashwa came from well back to win the Listed Fillies Trial at Newbury.

Her stakes-winning dam Princess Loulou (Pivotal) finished second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet.

Aidan O'Brien has the numbers. Since winning with Shahtoush in 1998, O'Brien has been in the winner's circle nine times, including five of the last seven.

He has four of the eleven acceptors, with the most fancied being Ryan Moore's mount Tuesday.

Advertisement

Tuesday (Galileo) is a half-sister to the  2016 Epsom Oaks heroine Minding and last year's One Thousand Guineas winner Empress Josephine.

The sire of two of the last four Oaks winners, Galileo has Thoughts Of June and Tuesday running for him

Another O'Brien-trained daughter of Galileo that has her admirers is the Moyglare Stud colour-bearer Thoughts Of June. She is coming off a win in the Listed Cheshire Oaks, defeating Above The Curve. At her next start, that daughter of American Pharoah (USA) came out and won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary.

Aidan O'Brien also has the highly-regarded Dubawi filly Concert Hall, which had little luck at her most recent start when third in the Group 1 Irish Thousand Guineas at the Curragh.

Joseph O'Brien has a contender with last start Group III Blue Wind Stakes winner Tranquil Lady.

The daughter of Australia is a half-sister to Group 1 Cox Plate winner State Of Rest (Starspangledbanner).

Godolphin relies on the Charlie Appleby-trained With The Moonlight, a homebred daughter of Frankel.  

Out of the Group II winning Dubawi mare Sand Vixen, With The Moonlight impressed with a four and three-quarter length romp in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 CF Orr Stakes - Two of Them in 2025 - Not All Change is Bad!
Flemington is done and dusted for another year, but Melbourne’s Spring carnival rocks on and programming changes continue, with the relocation of the MRC's time honoured G1 CF Orr Stakes from its traditional February slot.
Victorians Supporting National Thoroughbred Week
From November 20–24, dozens of farms and stables around Australia are opening their gates to the public for National Thoroughbred Week. It’s a chance for everyday Aussies see what happens beyond race day and on the farms - and to discover the deep care, commitment, and culture that surrounds the thoroughbred.
Catalogue Launched for Landmark 100th NZB National Yearling Sale
Fresh off the back of another record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, the cream of New Zealand’s yearling crop has been revealed for a landmark Karaka 2026, with a total of 1009 yearlings catalogued and now online.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 17
Here is the full list of 9 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
November Foals? Time to Breed a Winner with Aquis
November breeding reminders, here’s the truth… some of the best are born late.
Famous Family Produces G1 NZ 2000 Guineas
Victory bells have been ringing for Marie Leicester and her family for decades, with Romanoff the latest to hit a Group One note.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 15
Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 14
Here is the full list of 62 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Goffs November Foal Sale Offers Insight
The Goffs November Foal Sale kicks off later tonight our time and runs from November 17 – 20 and this year will hold significant interest with the first NH bred foals being offered for high profile Kiwi shuttlers Chaldean (GB) (Frankel) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni) as well as Darley shuttler Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream), who has an amazing 43 entries!
Derby Dreaming for Paul Mirabelli
Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli is now eyeing the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Shoma following his pleasing placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.