We are just a few hours away from the latest instalment of classic flat racing.
Nine horses have been declared for today's Oaks as the girls take centre stage at Epsom for the third classic of the season.
This race has been won by top class fillies Taghrooda (2014), Minding (2016) and Enable (2017) in recent years. Can the favourite Desert Flower under William Buick for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin add her name to the race's roll of honour?
Here are some key betting trends for the race:
- 20 of the previous 23 winners had finished 1st or 2nd last time out
- 15 of the previous 23 winners had won over at least 1m2f previously
- 14 of the previous 23 winners won last time out
- Eight of the previous 23 winners were trained by Aidan O’Brien
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Appleby may saddle the favourite but Aidan O’Brien has dominated the Epsom Oaks in recent years with eight victories since 2006. Last year Dermot Weld broke the sequence of either Aidan O’Brien or John Gosden winning the race with the pair training the winners between them during the period of 2014 to 2023. Ralph Beckett has also won twice with victories for Look Here in 2008 and Talent in 2013.
Both Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have good recent records in this race with the former winning the race three times since 2016. William Buick will be on board Desert Flower who has ridden 14 times in this race without success.
What time is the Oaks 2025?
The Oaks is scheduled to start at 16:00 from on Day 1 of the Epsom Derby meeting. Nine runners have been declared for the race - you can find out more about each of them below from Steve Ryder or via our complete runners guide featuring silks, form, weights and confirmed jockeys per runner.
- Desert Flower (William Buick)
- Elwateen (Jim Crowley)
- Giselle (Colin Keane)
- Go Go Boots (Oisin Murphy)
- Minnie Hauk (Ryan Moore)
- Qilin Queen (Tom Marquand)
- Revoir (Hector Crouch)
- Wemightakedlongway (Dylan Browne McMonagle)
- Whirl (Wayne Lordan)
Desert Flower
Won the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance staying on strongly over the mile trip under William Buick when making all. Unbeaten in her four starts as a juvenile including an impressive 5½ length success in the Fillies’ Mile. She will appreciate middle distances later this season and is a worthy favourite with the bookmakers.
Minnie Hauk
Stepped forward from her juvenile form to win the Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance beating Secret Of Love by a length. Cost €1,850,000 from a strong Juddmonte family and is bred to appreciate the trip. The Cheshire Oaks has produced two recent winners in Forever Together and Enable.
Giselle
Was sent off odds-on favourite and the choice of Ryan Moore when 2nd on her debut behind stablemate Bedtime Story. She then justified her price of 1/2 in a maiden but was behind stablemate Whirl at the Curragh on her final start last season. Won a weak three-runner Lingfield Oaks trial on her latest start at 1/3 where she raced keenly despite being fitted with a hood.
Elwateen
Supplemented for £30,000, this Shadwell-owned filly impressed on debut at Kempton and backed that up with a strong fourth in the 1000 Guineas, just 2¼ lengths behind the winner. The rise to 1m4f poses a question, but with just two runs under her belt, she remains full of potential.
Go Go Boots
Out of Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Hertford Dancer, she’s won twice at Lingfield before a solid third in the Musidora at York despite traffic issues. A proven stayer in the making, she represents a yard that’s won this race four times since 2014.
Qilin Queen
Runner-up in a Listed race at Haydock at 40/1 and third in the Pretty Polly before narrowly beating Revoir at Newbury. Rated 98, she’s honest and experienced at this level, but will need a bit more to feature prominently here.
Revoir
Ralph Beckett’s filly has shaped well in both starts, winning at Nottingham and then going down by just a short head to Qilin Queen in a Listed contest. She was finishing strongly over 1m2f and looks well-suited to the step up in trip.
Wemighttakedlongway
A front-runner with proven Group 3 form, she made all to win at Navan after a solid effort behind Derby favourite Delacroix in the Ballysax. The 1m4f trip is untested, but if she stays, her tactical speed could be a major asset.
Whirl
Improving with every run, she blew the field away in the Musidora Stakes, winning by 5½ lengths. That performance marked her out as a serious talent, and if she builds on it over this longer trip, she’ll be hard to beat.
Oaks Betting
Desert Flower has been dominant in the betting market through oddschecker since declarations were made for the race, taking 35% of the bets. The second favourite Minnie Hauk has taken a 13%, while Whirl (11%) is the only other with a greater than 10% share.
