Wild Illusion favoured in reduced Oaks field

The field for Saturday’s G1 Investec Oaks has slimmed down to nine runners, and the ground is officially ‘soft’ following a deluge on Epsom Downs on Tuesday.

Both factors appear to favour Godolphin contender Wild Illusion, who comes to the fillies’ Classic off the back of a fine fourth in the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier in the month.

Her trainer Charlie Appleby is confident the Dubawi filly is ready to do herself justice in conditions that seem ideal.

“I’ve always believed the Guineas is the best ‘trial’ for Epsom, whether it be the Derby or Oaks, and I don’t think we’ve witnessed a stronger ‘trial’ from the fillies this year than what we saw at Newmarket,” Appleby said.

“That form is holding up well. I’ve always thought that stepping up in trip was going to be Wild Illusion’s forte, and while I’m not saying she’s soft ground dependent, she’ll certainly appreciate a cut in the ground — and on Guineas day it was quick, yet she handled it,” he pointed out.

“We were very pleased the way she ran at Newmarket and the way she came out of it. She got on the front end early in the race, and she didn’t stop.

“She did what we’d seen her do in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly. 

"She sets a good gallop and she maintains it well. It’s pleasing to see that she has progressed from two to three, and that she has held her ability at this high level,” he said.

“She’s bred to get the trip. A mile and a half is going to be her ‘gig,’” he added.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien saddles five of Wild Illusion’s eight rivals in the Oaks, but he withdrew Magical after that filly sustained a minor injury earlier in the week. The William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class is also an absentee.

This is the third consecutive year in which nine have contested the Oaks. The smallest Oaks field in the past 25 years was in 2004 when Ouija Board beat six rivals.