O'Brien leaves strong team in Oaks Aidan O'Brien has pitched in with 12 of the 54 entries as he seeks a seventh win in the Investec Oaks at Epsom on June 2. O'Brien has taken the latest two renewals with Minding (2016) and Qualify (2015) and his team this time round is headed by Rhododendron. The daughter of Galileo is at the head of the ante-post market, having wound up her juvenile campaign with victory in the Dubai Fillies' Mile at Newmarket over stablemate Hydrangea, who made a winning reappearance at Leopardstown last weekend. O'Brien's son Joseph could have his first Oaks runner as a trainer with his two entries including Intricately, who got the better of Hydrangea and Rhododendron in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh in September. There are 20 Irish-trained entries in total and the hopefuls include Dermot Weld's Tocco D'Amore - who was hugely impressive at Naas on Sunday - and the Fozzy Stack-trained Angel Island. There is an American entry in the shape of Kenny McPeek's Daddys Lil Darling. The daughter of Scat Daddy landed the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs in September and was second in the Ashland Stakes over an extended mile on dirt at Keeneland on April 8. Newmarket trainer James Tate could have his first runner with Urban Fox. The Saeed Manana-owned filly acquitted herself well in several Pattern races last season and ended the campaign when third behind Rhododendron at Newmarket. "She has done well over the winter and our three-year-olds have made a good start to the year," said Tate. "She had a small foot problem about a month ago which means it is only 50-50 whether she makes it to a trial next week. We will know more after we work her at the weekend but, at the moment, she is heading towards the Qipco 1000 Guineas. "Having stayed a mile well in good company as a two-year-old, it made sense to give her an entry in the Investec Oaks. I think she will definitely stay 10 furlongs. "She was quite busy last year because she took her racing so well, although she never travelled too far from home. I think the furthest she went was probably Goodwood. "She was a light, narrow-looking filly whereas now she looks like a big, strong three-year-old." John Gosden enjoyed Oaks success in 2014 with Taghrooda and has another strong hand this year with six entries. The pick of his team at this stage looks to be unbeaten Dubawi grey Coronet, successful in the 10-furlong Listed Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, while Shutter Speed, Astronomy's Choice, Enable and Precious Ramotswe were all maiden scorers on their only starts last year.
