HORSE RACING:MICHAEL KINANE will be on board Frozen Fire in tomorrow's Derby but the legendary jockey's best chance of Classic success at Epsom looks like it could be on Katiyra in today's Oaks.
A total of 17 colts were declared for the Derby yesterday with Frozen Fire joined by four stable companions from Ballydoyle as well as the other Irish hopes Casual Conquest and New Approach.
However, that representation pales in comparison to today's classic where nine of the 16 runners are Irish trained with the visitors dominating the ante-post betting. New Approach's stable companion Lush Lashes leads the market after a spectacular Musidora Stakes triumph at York where she had many of the major home hopefuls behind her.
That's a ratings topper going into today's classic but Lush Lashes faces an unbeaten prospect with loads of potential in Dermot Weld's Chinese White as well as a mammoth six-strong team from Ballydoyle headed by Johnny Murtagh's selection, Adored.
Compared to almost everything else in the race, Katiyra has almost slipped under the radar in the run up to the Oaks which will be just how her trainer John Oxx will have liked it.
Bred to stay even further than a mile and a half, Katiyra, nevertheless, had the speed to win her sole start as a juvenile and her only start this year was full of promise.
The Peintre Celebre filly didn't break well and was always just out of her ground in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but still ran on noticeably well to be runner up to Carribean Sunset. The winner has since been placed in the Irish Guineas.
"She has been in good shape since that run. We would have liked to have got more experience into her but that wasn't possible. But she is in very good form," Oxx said.
Kinane knows exactly what is required to win an Oaks having been victorious with Shahtoush (1998) and Imagine (2001) for Aidan O'Brien. The 13-time champion jockey, who will be 49 later this month, has always had a high regard for Katiyra, a view that can be borne out today. If there is a danger to her it could well come from Chinese White who won her only start of 2008 in good style at Gowran.
Dermot Weld won the Oaks with Blue Wind 27 years ago and his decision to come to Epsom instead of waiting for the Irish Oaks looks significant. Aidan O'Brien is seeking a fourth Oaks success with his big team and the champion trainer will also be looking for a third victory in four years in the Coronation Cup.
A three-strong team led by last year's Irish Derby hero Soldier Of Fortune will try and emulate Yeats (2005) and Scorpion last year but they face a major task against the French trained Getaway.
With six wins in the race already Andre Fabre holds the record for the Coronation Cup and Getaway looked a different proposition to the horse that ran fourth in last year's Arc when sluicing up in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last month.
That was also the race Shirocco won before scoring at Epsom two years ago and Fabre has already stated he expects Getaway to be a major player in the top middle distance events in Europe this year.
"He is stronger than last year and appears to be getting better. The ground is not a worry," said a spokesman for Getaway's owner.
"The Epsom race looks a mini-King George. All that is missing is one of the top three year olds."
Even with a horse of the calibre of Soldier Of Fortune in opposition, the French star should be very hard to beat.
