All The Main Contenders Remain In Vodafone Oaks

All the main contenders remain in the £350,000 Vodafone Oaks, the highlight of Vodafone Ladies´ Day, Friday, June 3, following today´s forfeit stage.

The Michael Jarvis-trained Eswarah currently heads the ante-post market and the daughter of 1986 Oaks heroine Midway Lady is one of 16 confirmations. She could not have been more impressive when landing the Swettenham Stud Fillies´ Trial at Newbury on May 13. Jarvis could also be represented by Anaamil, a good winner on her only start in a Haydock Park maiden earlier this month.

Another impressive trial winner was John Dunlop´s Cassydora, who scored by six lengths in the totesport Lingfield Oaks Trial on May 7 while David Elsworth´s Something Exciting entered the Epsom picture when landing the last recognised trial for the Vodafone Oaks, the Normandie Stud Lupe Stakes, at Goodwood yesterday.

Speaking from rain-swept gallops at his Whitsbury base in Hampshire, Elsworth said today: 'Something Exciting is in good form and has come out of the race well - I just wish there was a bit of sunshine for her this morning. She´s been led out for a pick of grass and has a great big smile on her face.'

The Irish look to hold a particularly strong hand in this year´s Vodafone Oaks. Aidan O´Brien has two to choose from in Silk And Scarlet, a staying-on fourth last time out in the French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp, and Mona Lisa, fourth in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on her latest appearance. Other Irish entries are Dream To Dress from the Dermot Weld yard, the facile winner of a Fairyhouse maiden last time out, as well as the Jim Bolger-trained Pictavia and Saoire from the Frances Crowley yard, sixth and seventh respectively in the UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1.

Argentina and Fraloga are the two remaining entries from France. Argentine, trained by Elie Lellouche, finished second in a Group Three at Saint-Cloud on her latest appearance in April while the Andre Fabre representative Fraloga was a fast-finishing third behind Divine Proportions in Sunday´s French 1000 Guineas.

Sir Michael Stoute has left in the Aga Khan´s Karliyna, a very easy winner of a Beverley maiden on May 17 while Mick Channon has two possible representatives in Desert Move and Joint Aspiration.

Completing the field are Brian Meehan´s Magical Romance, triumphant in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in 2004 and Higher Love from the Michael Bell yard, runner-up last time out in the Cheshire Oaks.