Investec Derby Festival: Does Minding have Oaks at her mercy?

In the last of those she put in a breathtaking display in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket when sauntering clear to win under a hands and heels ride to beat Nathra by 4 1/2 lengths.

That race was won in a very quick time, and had O’Brien ranking Minding up with the best juvenile fillies he had ever handled.

Guineas success simply sensational

Minding was sent off a heavily backed 11/10 favourite for the 1000 Guineas on the back of it, and her supporters never had an anxious moment.

After pressing the leaders, Minding took up the running two from home and pulled readily clear in the hands of Ryan Moore to beat Ballydoyle with far more in hand than the winning margin of 3 1/2 lengths suggests.

It was performance right out of the top drawer, and Minding travelled strongly throughout and was always in total control.

The big question now is whether Minding will be as effective over half a mile further in the Oaks.

Excellent temperament a big plus

She was certainly not stopping when stopping when hitting the line at Newmarket, but her dam Lillie Langtry never raced further than a mile.

However, Minding’s sire Galileo has produced a whole host of outstanding middle-distance performers and everything suggests that she should get the trip.

In many cases top class horses blessed with speed to win over a mile are often let down by refusing to settle when stepped up in trip, but Minding has an excellent temperament, settles well and has a high cruising speed.

Ideal attributes to win an Oaks

She is able to do things easily without using up vital energy, and also posses a devastating foot to quickly put a race to bed.

Those are the perfect attributes to win an Oaks, and with So Mi Dar now ruled out of the race through lameness the closest in the ante post Oaks betting to Minding are Ballydoyle and Turret Rocks.

Minding has nothing to fear from that pair judged on their running in the Guineas. Taking everything into account, Minding does look a worthy odds-on favourite to land a sixth Oaks for O’Brien.

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