If she wins as expected, the 33/1 currently on offer for the Oaks would soon evaporate.
Not since High-Rise in 1998 has the winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (3.15) gone on to glory in the Epsom Classic, but if there is a potential Derby winner amongst the runners for Saturday's renewal, it could be Age Of Aquarius.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, responsible for last year's Derby Trial winner Alessandro Volta, he represents the best form on offer having finished fourth just a length and a half behind his unbeaten stablemate Fame And Glory in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 1m2f in November. The winner is now one of the favourites for the Derby and recent support for Age Of Aquarius in the Epsom ante post market - now a best-priced 20/1 with Skybet (12/1 in places) - suggests he's not that far down in the pecking order at Ballydoyle.
That said, several of the stable's runners have needed their first outing of the season and, besides, he won't be much of a price on Saturday, so a chance is taken on the one other potentially high class colt in the field, FATHER TIME. The Henry Cecil-trained runner is on a bit of a retrieval mission having finished only third on his seasonal debut at Newbury behind the filly High Heeled. However, the form of that race may well be smart as the winner has been well-backed for the Oaks recently and the fourth and fifth have since fought a finish in a Newmarket Listed race.
Sure to have come on for that outing, this full brother to the high-class Passage Of Time - winner of five races for Cecil - will appreciate the better ground at Lingfield than he encountered at Newbury and he is fancied to take this race on the way to much better things. Should he win, he would certainly merit consideration for the Derby, and he'll be nothing like his current odds of 66/1 (Coral).
The importance of the Oaks Trial Stakes (2.40) on the same card had also been on the wain as a warm-up for the fillies' Classic at Epsom. That was until the Ralph Beckett-trained Look Here went on to Oaks glory after finishing an unlucky second in last year's renewal, and the trainer, who also sent out Kayah to win this race in 2007, looks to have another likely candidate in the shape of ANICE STELLATO.
The Dalakhani filly has a similar profile to Look Here in that she won her only start at two, a 7f maiden at Newmarket, and has a similarly smart middle-distance pedigree. Clearly, Beckett likes to use this race as a platform for his best fillies and, while she's the type to progress as the season goes on, the vibes from the yard suggest she's ready to go in first time out. If she wins as expected, the 33/1 (bet365) currently on offer for the Oaks would soon evaporate.
Recommended Bets:
Father Time 2pts @ best morning-line price
Anice Stellato 2pts @ best morning-line price
1pt double on the above