Dubai: Darley and Shadwell, two of the most powerful racing operations in the world, go head-to-head in the Group 1 Investec Oaks, the feature race on day one of the much anticipated Epsom Derby Festival.

Dual UAE Classic winning filly Ihtimal represents the former, while Taghrooda and Tarfasha are exciting Shadwell proteges.

Darley is the breeding operation of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, owns Shadwell.

Together, the take on the might of English and Irish trained horses in a race that is the fillies equivalent of the Derby run on the next day, Saturday. Twenty horses remain in contention for the 2,400m contest ahead of the final declaration stage on June 4.

Taghrooda, a breathtaking six-length winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes earlier this month, is the 10-3 ante-post favourite while Tarfasha is available at odds of 7-1 and Ihtimal 8-1.

Trained by John Gosden, Taghrooda displayed a smart turn of foot when routing her rivals, an looks a sort who can only get better. However, the Epsom track is a different proposition to Newmarket and she will be really tested by the course and rivals who might be suited by it’s variations.

Gosden believes that his Shadwell-bred filly with appreciate the mile-and-a-half trip at Epsom.

“She is a very nice filly. People are quite correct to question the form [Pretty Polly Stakes]. You win by six lengths and it is not your fault if the others do not go on,” he said during the Breakfast with the Stars event.

“She has gone nicely here this morning [Paul Hanagan in the saddle] and soft ground would not be her favourite but she handled it. I feel the step-up in trip will help her. However, I think the Investec Oaks is a race with great depth. It is a race where you can make a case for at least half a dozen to win.”

Meanwhile Dermot Weld, hinted that Tarfasha might sidestep the Epsom Oaks in favour of the Irish Oaks, or even the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

“We are very happy with her and she is a very fluent moving filly and likes top of the ground. If the ground was good to yielding we would be very happy, if it was softer we wouldn’t go,” he said.

Eight fillies were taken out of the race on Saturday, but four were added to the field at a fee of £30,000 (Dh184,000) each, including Honor Bound, Lily Rules, Anipa and Marsh Daisy.

Roger Varian, who trains Anipa for Nurlan Bizakov, said on his website: “I have been pleased with her since her win in the Cheshire Oaks. There was a lot to like about that performance. The way she travelled and quickened, and a track like Epsom holds no fears for her.

“She needs to improve again to win an Oaks but we feel that the manner of her Cheshire Oaks victory more than entitles her to take her chance.”

Latest odds

The Oaks

Friday, June 6

Taghrooda (10/3), Marvellous (7/2)in, Tarfasha (7), Ihtimal (8)out, Shamkala (11), Madame Chiang (14), Marsh Daisy (14), Sinnamary (20), Amazing Maria (25), Anipa (25), Bracelet (25), Honor Bound (25)in, Palace (25), Volume (25), Tapestry (28)out, Lightning Thunder (33), Lily Rules (33)in, Dazzling (40), Inchila (50), Regardez (50) Show all