Stepping Up: Minnie Hauk poised for Epsom Oaks challenge

© Healy Racing Photos

Aidan O’Brien looks to make his mark in the UK Classic races in 2025 and has a good chance with Minnie Hauk.

The Frankel filly was a winner at Chester last time out and is primed for her next target at Epsom on Friday, 6th June.

4.001m. 4f. 6yds. 9 Declared.
Betfred Oaks (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1 ) of £573,150.00 3-y-o

• Formscan
• Race Info

1st - €325,033.00 2nd - €123,227.00 3rd - €61,671.00 4th - €30,721.00 5th - €15,417.00 6th - €7,737.00 Going - Good to Soft (Good in places). 

Formscan - DESERT FLOWER looks more than capable of giving Charlie Appleby a first Oaks success. Unbeaten in five career outings, the daughter of Night Of Thunder only ever seems to do enough and the way she finished off the 1000 Guineas gave a strong indication that she may relish this rise in distance. A taking winner of the Cheshire Oaks, Minnie Hauk must enter calculations as a proven stayer but the best of the Ballydoyle contingent may be Whirl, who produced a career-best performance when landing the Musidora at York. Hailing from a family that includes Oaks winner Look Here, Revoir is another to consider on the rise in trip, as is the supplemented Elwateen, who caught the eye on only her second start when a highly-encouraging fourth in the Guineas.

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  Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening

Betting Percentage
Each-Way Terms

 

6⁷

Qilin Queen 4

8th

Rating: 98

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

3³

Giselle 4

5th

Rating: 102

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

9⁹

Whirl 4

2nd

Rating: 110

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

2⁵

Elwateen 4

7th

Rating: 108

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

4⁴

Go Go Boots 4

9th

Rating: 99

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

8⁸

Wemightakedlongway 4

4th

Rating: 105

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

7⁶

Revoir 4

6th

Rating: 97

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

1¹

Desert Flower 4

3rd

Rating: 117

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

5²

Minnie Hauk 4

1st

Rating: 100

• Odds

Price

E/W

Moves

Epsom Oaks Betting Offer

Hauk appreciates longer trip

Minnie Hauk proved herself to be an Oaks contender with her win at Chester last time out, as she bids to give Aidan O’Brien his seventh winner in 11 renewals.

The Cheshire Oaks was the chosen target for Minnie Hauk’s reappearance in 2025, with O’Brien aiming to win the race for the third time in four years. Sent off the 13/8 favourite under Ryan Moore, she fully appreciated the step up in trip, staying on strongly to the line to win comfortably.

More will be required to win the Oaks, but she has plenty of scope for improvement as she steps up in trip again at Epsom.

Frankel filly showed potential at two

The half-sister to Group 2 winner Tilsit ran a fine race on debut at Cork over 1m on yielding ground, going down by just over two lengths. She kept on well to chase down the clear leader but couldn’t reel in the more experienced runner.

She got off the mark on her second attempt at Leopardstown. This time, she raced much closer to the pace under Wayne Lordan. Again, she stayed on well to the line, crying out for a step up in trip to bring out further improvement.

Oaks up next

She'll step up in trip to 1m4f for the Oaks at Epsom on Friday, 6th June. The Grade 1 classic will demand more from her, as she also steps up in class against the excellent 1,000 Guineas-winning Godolphin filly, Desert Flower.

With more improvement to come, Minnie Hauk can truly throw her hat into the ring as the extended trip looks to be right up her street.

With Lake Victoria likely to pursue other options, Minnie Hauk appears to be Aidan O’Brien’s number one contender - meaning Ryan Moore is expected to take the ride.