Desert Flower heads nine fillies aiming for Epsom Oaks glory The landscape for the second fillies' Classic of the year is becoming clearer after nine were left in contention for the Betfred Oaks on Friday, with Godolphin's Desert Flower remaining on track to bid for a Classic double. The 1000 Guineas winner at Newmarket last month, the Charlie Appleby-trained Desert Flower remains unbeaten in her career and is on track for the step up in trip at Epsom. We're taking a look at the nine contenders for Classic glory at Epsom on Friday afternoon. BoyleSports Betting Offer If you already have a BoyleSports account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Desert Flower (Charlie Appleby) The daughter of Night Of Thunder took her unbeaten record to five in landing the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, her first start since ending her two-year-old campaign with victory in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. She looks ready for the step up in trip now. Charlie Appleby needs this race to complete his full set of Britain's Classics — will this be his time? Elwateen (Saeed bin Suroor) A Dubawi filly representing Shadwell for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, Elwateen was only having her second start on the track when she ran a highly encouraging fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She won first up over 7f at Kempton last August and might just have needed her race on comeback as she wilted late on. Giselle (Aidan O'Brien) One of a trio left in for Aidan O'Brien, who has won the Oaks on 10 occasions, including six times since 2015, Giselle is a filly by Frankel and was placed in a Group 3 behind stablemate Whirl at the Curragh in the autumn. She dominated the three-runner Lingfield Oaks Trials in last month's comeback and looks to be a key player here. Go Go Boots (John & Thady Gosden) Just one contender for the Gosden operation, responsible for the Oaks winner four times since 2014. Go Go Boots was 2-2 on the all-weather at Lingfield either side of her winter break and made her turf debut at York in the Musidora Stakes, where she was third behind Whirl and Serenity Prayer. She has some ground to find on the winner if they both line up now. Minnie Hauk (Aidan O'Brien) The second Ballydoyle contender, also by Frankel, Minnie Hauk signed off last season by winning a Leopardstown maiden over a mile and she stayed on strongly to win the Chester Vase on good ground in last month's return under Ryan Moore, underscoring her potential as a contender for this prize. Qilin Queen (Ed Walker) Ed Walker's daughter of Pinatubo has plenty of experience behind her after five runs and her latest Listed win at Newbury (1m2f, good) saw her making the running and clinging on gamely to hold Revoir at the line under the Hollie Doyle drive. This is another big step up in class. Revoir (Ralph Beckett) She justified favouritism for a winning debut at Nottingham over an extended mile on heavy ground in October and this daughter of Study Of Man would surely have thrilled connections in pushing Qilin Queen to the pin of her collar at Newbury on her only start since. She's a potential improver upped in trip/class. Wemighttakedlongway (Joseph O'Brien) Another possible Irish raider, this Australia filly was behind leading Derby contender Delacroix when fifth in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown in March on her comeback and that form has proved extremely strong. She took a step in the right direction by winning the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April and may have further potential at this Classic distance. Whirl (Aidan O'Brien) This Wootton Bassett filly has the highest rating of the Ballydoyle trio. She appeared to need her comeback at the Curragh over a mile in April in a Group 3 but left that well behind upped in trip at York when winning the Musidora Stakes by more than five-lengths. Two of the last four winners of that York race have come to Epsom and won the Oaks.
