2026 Epsom Oaks: Five things to know

Already an 11-time winner of the Oaks (G1) at Epsom, Aidan O’Brien is favored to extend his record haul to 12 in Friday’s renewal.

But son Joseph sends out a rapid improver, and the British home team has strength in depth. A Juddmonte blueblood from the John and Thady Gosden yard, a classic-placed filly with the pedigree to stretch out, and a stealth candidate for a two-time Oaks-winning trainer all have appeal in a race that could be more open than the market suggests. 

Let’s distill the Oaks field into five bullet points.

Amelia Earhart tops the Ballydoyle squad, but someone is missing.

Amelia Earhart quickened smartly to win the Cheshire Oaks, toppling favorite I’m the One (who went wide) and supplanting her at the head of the market for Epsom. Yet the well-bred daughter of Camelot isn’t the most straightforward mentally. Indeed, she has quirks. 

A money-burner when beaten in her first four starts, Amelia Earhart finally put it all together on the step up to a mile on yielding going at Leopardstown last October. Aidan O’Brien spent the winter trying to sort her out, and hit upon a combination of blinkers and a hood for her reappearance at Chester. Amelia Earhart has all the physical attributes, but will the unique test of Epsom expose any residual mental weakness? Or has she gotten past her youthful indiscretions?

Stablemate Cameo brings a progressive profile as the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner. Not only did she track a strong pace and pull clear, but she posted a time faster than the colts in the corresponding Derby Trial. Sugar Island is presumably on the scene to help with the pace, as she did at Chester, although she’s no slouch herself – especially on softer going. 

Still, it’s worth wondering if the Epsom weather hasn’t deprived Ballydoyle of its best chance. Precise, last year’s star juvenile filly, suddenly thrust herself into Oaks contention with her victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1). If she proved as effective on the step up to 1 1/2 miles – not an iron-clad certainty on pedigree – Precise would have loomed a major threat here. But this week’s rain has turned the ground softish, made the Oaks a stiffer stamina test, and prompted the withdrawal of Precise.

Legacy Link boosted her credentials in the Musidora.

John Gosden has won the Oaks four times, and Legacy Link stated her case to become his fifth in the key trial at York, the Musidora (G3). Despite coming off a layoff, traveling keenly in a strongly-run race, and striking the front a bit too soon, she summoned more to outduel the talented (and race-fit) Felicitas. 

By Dubawi and out of a full sister to the great Frankel, Legacy Link was previously fourth to Precise in the Fillies’ Mile (G1). She briefly lost position, possibly caught out by Newmarket’s Dip, before staying on again late in the uphill finish. If there’s a qualm about how she might handle Epsom, Legacy Link reportedly delighted Gosden in her recent reconnaissance mission over the course. 

Thundering On impressed in the Salsabil. 

Joseph O’Brien has been known to upstage his father at times, and Thundering On arrives on a steep upward curve. I was going to call her a dark horse and potential value play, but the Frankel filly has gained market support.

Improving in every single race of her career so far, Thundering On was an eye-catching fourth to Cameo on debut, a closing second to Sugar Island in the Staffordstown Stud (G3), a near-misser in her sophomore bow, and an emphatic winner of the Salsabil (G3) in her latest. On hold in a tracking position, she got the split and bounded clear in a fast time at Navan. 

Thundering On likely has even more upside. Joseph also trained her dam, Group 1 winner Thundering Nights, who excelled with maturity. Stateside fans might remember her for just missing to Mean Mary in the 2021 New York (G2) at Belmont Park. This is also the family of 2016 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) heroine Queen’s Trust and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Domestic Spending.

A La Prochaine has a sneaky look. 

Third to Amelia Earhart at Chester in only her second career start, A La Prochaine is capable of a substantial leap forward. Note that trainer Ralph Beckett, a two-time Oaks winner, had her earmarked for Epsom, unlike his other two entrants who placed in their trials.

A La Prochaine didn’t make it to the races until late October, when she drove through soft ground at Newbury to win in the manner of a promising prospect. The Wathnan Racing colorbearer encountered quicker going in the Cheshire Oaks. Off a beat slow and outpaced on the final turn, she nevertheless made a solid move into third. Natural progression from her prep, and ease in the ground at Epsom, give her a realistic chance of getting involved.

It’s tempting to read the performances of stablemates K Sarra and On Message as a kind of proxy endorsement for her. K Sarra was a good third in the Musidora, gaining on Legacy Link and Felicitas late. But Beckett initially sounded cool about the idea of her trying Epsom, and I’m notorious for taking trainers’ comments to heart. On Message has already proven herself on this track, albeit as the workmanlike winner of a handicap, and she exits a closing third in Goodwood’s Height of Fashion S.

Venetian Lace is the only Group 1-placed filly in the field.

While the Oaks is replete with talented fillies on the upswing, only one actually has classic form in the book. Venetian Lace was third in Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas (G1), following a fine second to Precise in last October’s Fillies’ Mile over the same course and distance. 

Trained by Charlie Johnston, the daughter of 2018 Derby hero Masar has claims to maintain her form on the stretch-out to 1 1/2 miles. The quibble is that her two races on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile are also the two best races of her life. Is that a sign of Venetian Lace’s intrinsic progress, or rather that the Rowley Mile simply brings out the best in her? Will her aggressive running style be as helpful around a rain-softened Epsom?