OAKS WINNERS BLUEBELL, NEW CREATION & ROBERTA – SET TO FIGHT IT OUT IN THE INDIAN OAKS, GR.1

EXCEPTION 
(Western Aristocrat-Edessya) dkb f rated 76
This Kolkata challenger from the yard of James McKeown has won only one race, the Calcutta Fillies Trial Stakes run over 7f, on the second start of her career. She was then thrown into the deep end in the Calcutta Derby finishing a distance third to Shivansh and Peluche. She then finished second to Adjudicate in the Calcutta 1000 Guineas by 6¼ lengths and just lost out at the line to Oriana in the Calcutta Oaks by a long neck. Tried and tested over the mile and a half, she will try her best to make good in this Classic, but one has to take into consideration that this will be her first experience of the Mahalaxmi track.

BLUEBELL
(Paco Boy-Well Hidden) b f rated 74
She has only three runs under her belt, having shed her maiden status when stretched over the 9f trip on her second outing, winning by a margin of 6 lengths from Retained Asset in Mumbai. She then made her way to Hyderabad where she annexed the Golconda Oaks, Gr.2 by 2½ lengths in 2:34.49secs. This well-bred filly has exemplified that staying is not an issue and she will be a frontline contender in the race.

NEW CREATION
(Multidimensional-Tarnished Lady) b f rated 72

The winner of three of her five starts, she won over the mile trip in Mysore before finishing ¾ length second to Oomph in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas. On her last start she won the South India Oaks by a head from Tudor Treasure in 2:35.42secs, who was a long neck ahead of the Indian 1000 Guineas winner La Rondine. With victory under her belt over the mile and a half she looks set to claim this fillies Classic, but will have to thwart the serious challenge expected from Bluebell.

ROBERTA
(Multidimensional-Moonlight Romance) b f rated 61
Her breeding has stamped her ability to tackle the distance of this Classic. She shed her maiden status over 10f in Pune winning by 7 lengths, and immediately she was talked about as favourite for the Oaks. She repeated the performance again, this time winning by 1¾ length when receiving weight from the field. As favourite in her last outing and first in Mumbai, she was well beaten by stable mate Smasher by 9¾ lengths, while conceding 6 kgs to the winner. She too has had problems along the way, but if she is fine and well, then she will be right there in contention.

MERLOT 
(Saamidd-Tourmalet) b f rated 53

She won her debut over 7f, and has been unsuccessful in her next four starts. She fell short of ½ length to Realmsoffantasy in the Golconda 1000 Guineas and then finished seventh in the Indian 1000 Guineas. Her double Guiness appearance was barely a week apart, and that might have been tough on her peperation for a race such as this, which will be a real test of stamina.

EYES FOR YOU
(Multidimensional-Margarita Rita) b f rated 52

She shed her maiden status over the 6f trip in the second start of her career, then on her recent outing in the Indian 1000 Guineas finished in fourth, 3½ lengths behind La Rondine, well ahead of Princess Eliza, Merlot and Anatevka. She belongs to the brigade that are hoping to stay the distance.

ANATEVKA
(Multidimensional-Smashing) b f rated 38

She is the winner of two races, first over 7f and then her last outing over the 6f trip. When tried over the mile in the Indian 1000 Guineas she finished 8th to La Rondine, way behind Eyes For You, Princess Eliza and Merlot whom she will face again in this race. While she is well bred, will she be able to get the trip against more experienced stayers in the field?

PRINCESS ELIZA
(Nett Whizz-Poor Old Eliza) ch f rated 27
Yet a maiden, and the lowest rated contender in the field, this chestnut filly has had a host of issues that were mostly sorted about before she finished 6th in the Indian 1000 Guineas. She is expected to improve on that run, and with staying the distance well within her compass, she will have to work very hard to shed her maiden status with a Classic.