Pollenator taxed with Oaks entry
Five years after seeing their colours carried to victory in the Derby by Motivator, the Royal Ascot Racing Club now have their eyes set on the Investec Oaks with Pollenator.
The Richard Hannon-trained filly, from the first crop of their Classic hero, is among 77 entries for the £350,000 Investec Oaks on June 4.
She enjoyed a fruitful first campaign culminating with victory over subsequent Group One scorer Hibaayeb in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September.
Royal Ascot Racing Club racing manager Harry Herbert said: “She is on course to make her seasonal return in the 1000 Guineas.
“We can’t say for sure until she does her first couple of pieces of serious work, but she looks stronger this year and she has physically done really well from two to three.
“She showed plenty of speed in her juvenile campaign but you would have to think that she will better going further.
“My gut feeling is that she could go straight to the Oaks after Newmarket.
“She won’t need a trial from a fitness perspective because she is very much like her sire – she’s a busy filly who likes to get on with it.
“It depends what happens in the Guineas, but we could possibly look at something like the Musidora to test her over an extended trip.”
Fillies’ Mile heroine Hibaayeb is now with Godolphin after being trained by Clive Brittain. Sheikh Mohammed’s operation have other possibles including Long Lashes and Wedding March.
Henry Cecil, with eight Oaks successes to his name, has four entries this time - Timepiece, Principal Role, Kithonia and Aviate.
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for 17 of the 32 Irish-trained entries with a formidable team headed by You’ll Be Mine, Lillie Langtry, Cabaret, Devoted To You, Lady Lupus and Famous.
Jim Bolger has four entries, including Sagacious and Gile Na Greine, while Dermot Weld’s three are headed by Sense Of Purpose.
Sir Michael Stoute, a dual Oaks- winning trainer, has Hymnsheet among his four, while John Dunlop, another two-time scorer may be represented by Mudaaraah.
Other notable entries include Namaskar and Dyna Waltz, from John Gosden’s stable, and Ralph Beckett’s Ceilidh House.
