Jim Crowley: Empress Wu could be my Oaks filly

York 3.00 – Khaadem

Khaadem is a horse I know well, having won a Stewards’ Cup on him when he was owned by Shadwell. Now owned by the Hays, he’s been running well enough at Meydan over the winter without winning. I actually won this race for these owners a few years ago, on a big outsider called Glass Office, so it would be nice to repeat that!

ICYMI

Khaadem blows them away in the Unibet Stewards' Cup at @Goodwood_Races#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/TPnHUo7Bmu

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 3, 2019

This looks a really deep renewal of the race, with Highfield Princess and Creative Force both proven Group One performers, and The Astrologist an interesting runner from Australia, so my fellow would need to improve to be involved, but at his best he’s smart and I hope he runs a nice race for connections I’ve enjoyed plenty of luck for over the years.

York 3.35 – Empress Wu

This Musidora looks to be the strongest Oaks trial we’ve seen, with Infinite Cosmos heading the market off the back of an impressive Newmarket win. I rode my filly when she won her only start at Lingfield last back-end. She was very green that day but showed a fair amount of ability to win well.

She’s related to the same owner’s Madame Chiang, who won this race a few years ago, and who I then won the Group One fillies’ race on Champions Day on, so it’s a classy family, and she will stay this trip well. I understand she is pleasing David Simcock and the fact they are running her in such a good race suggests they hold her in high regard.

She’s only had that one run, but that means she’s still unexposed and this is where we’ll find out plenty more about her, but if she does run well, she could well be my Oaks ride.

Jim

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