Minding on course for Oaks bid

Minding appears to be winning her race to be fit in time for the Oaks on Friday June 3rd.

Aidan O'Brien's Classic winner remains ante-post favourite, despite finishing second to Jet Setting in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Minding burst a sinus when she banged her head in the starting stalls at the Curragh, but she looks on track for Epsom.

O'Brien said: "She rode out and cantered (on Tuesday morning). She did a gentle canter and we were all very happy with her.

"She will do very little I would imagine for the next 10 days.

"If she is well obviously we will look forward to it. Hopefully everything is going to be OK.

"There was no blood in her sinuses (on Tuesday morning), which was good."

Ballydoyle, runner-up to Minding in the Guineas at Newmarket, had been due to run in the Irish equivalent on Sunday but suffered a late setback.

Her participation in the Oaks is now in limbo, confirmed Coolmore UK representative Kevin Buckley.

He said: "Unfortunately, Ballydoyle did not have a 100 per cent blood count before the Irish Guineas and that is obviously still a bit of a concern.

"We will just have to sit and wait with her. There is a possibility she might not make the Oaks."

Buckley said stablemates Seventh Heaven and Somehow are unlikely to head to Epsom, but that Even Song had been pencilled in to run by O'Brien.

He added: "I would say she is second in the pecking order at this minute in time.

"She finished third in the Pretty Polly at Newmarket, but she had a bit of traffic trouble that day and ran on very well."

Skiffle is poised to be supplemented for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday week.

The Dubawi filly, owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, caught the eye at Goodwood last Thursday with a one-length success in the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes over a mile and a quarter.

She is now on verge of being added to the Oaks field at a cost of 30,000 pounds.

Godolphin chief executive and racing manager John Ferguson said: "She has thrived over the last month.

"She won well at Goodwood, a legitimate Oaks trial, and although the first thought was the Grade Two Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, recent events over the weekend suggested the Oaks might be a little more open than we thought.

"It would be wrong of us not to consider the possibility of supplementing.

"The ultimate decision will be made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed over the weekend."