How Sunday's action at Newmarket could impact the betting for the Oaks
The 2021 Flat season is well under way and it is full steam ahead to the Epsom Classics in June – the Cazoo Derby and Cazoo Oaks.
Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it is easy to miss a potential dark horse.
Here is a recap of the action at Newmarket and how it has impacted the Classic betting, while we mark your card with key names to note today.
Racing round-up: Newmarket on Saturday
Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas looked sure to offer key pointers for the Cazoo Derby, but it did not quite work out that way with neither the winner Poetic Flare nor runner-up Master Of The Seas holding an entry for Epsom on June 5.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 22 could be the next port of call for the first two home as well as third-placed Lucky Vega, who does hold a Derby entry.
The main Derby fallout from the Guineas was the no-show from the Aidan O'Brien team and Van Gogh and Wembley were pushed out in the ante-post market. One Ruler, who finished sixth, might head for the Derby, according to trainer Charlie Appleby.
All was not lost, however, as a little over an hour later Mohaafeth burst on to the Derby scene with an impressive victory in the Listed Newmarket Stakes.
After the race William Haggas, trainer of the fast-improving son of Frankel, described next month's Derby as "a very tempting proposition" and the bookmakers cut his odds accordingly.
Market movers: Cazoo Derby
Mohaafeth 8-1 (from 33-1), Paddy Power
Van Gogh 14-1 (from 7), bet365
Wembley 20-1 (from 14), Betfred
What they said
William Haggas, trainer of Mohaafeth
He's bred to be good and he has looked better each time he has run. We don't know whether he would stay, but the Derby is a very tempting proposition. It's all very exciting stuff. I've no idea if he would handle the track at Epsom as I'm not that clever, but he handles the Dip at Newmarket okay.
All eyes on the 1,000 Guineas
Not only is the once-raced Santa Barbara a short-price favourite for today's Qipco 1,000 Guineas (3.40), but she also heads the betting at a general 3-1 for the Cazoo Oaks on June 4.
She could tighten her grip on the market with victory in the Guineas, while stablemate Mother Earth, Saffron Beach and Statement are others with Oaks entries.
The 1,000 Guineas is not the only race where Oaks clues could be gleaned as the Pretty Polly Stakes (2.25) features a clash between exciting fillies A'Shaari and Sea Karats.
Read more on the action at Newmarket on Sunday:
3.40 Newmarket: Time for the talking to stop as Santa Barbara bids to give O'Brien seventh win
2.25 Newmarket: Sea Karats bids to be the exception to the rule by making big step up from debut
ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the seven races on ITV on Sunday
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- 3.23 Sandown: can Champions Day-bound Checkandchallenge take advantage of a drop in class for course specialist William Knight?
- Can Cheltenham winner return to form now back with Gordon Elliott? Punting pointers for Wednesday's racing