Sherbet Lemon has the zest for Epsom after 28-1 shock for Watson and Mulrennan
Sherbet Lemon threw her hat into an increasingly open-looking Cazoo Oaks picture as she sprang a 28-1 surprise in the Listed Novibet Oaks Trial.
The grey was always always placed handily behind the pace-setting Loving Dream and cut through the soft ground best of all to win by three quarters of a length.
The Archie Watson-trained filly was a rare ride at the track for Paul Mulrennan and the Yorkshire-based rider may well be back on board in the Classic itself on June 4, for which his mount was cut to 33-1 (from 66) by Paddy Power.
The winner was paying a compliment to the Sir Michael Stoute-trained fellow Oaks entry Noon Star, who she finished fourth to at Wetherby last month.
Lingfield Oaks Trial result and replay
"She may have been a big price, but Archie was very positive about her chances and said she'd come on a hell of a lot at home," Mulrennan said. "He said this longer trip would suit her, especially as she's a half-sister to a Melbourne Cup winner.
"She relishes this ground and the further she went the better she was. I can see how this gets them ready for Epsom as it's a very up and down track. Obviously it's up to the owners but she's in the Oaks and has won a recognised trial."
On his connection with Watson, he added: "I had five rides for Archie last year and three of them won. The year before that I had six winners from nine rides, so when he does use me they tend to win."
Runner-up Save A Forest also holds an Epsom entry, but her Oaks participation is far from certain.
Part-owner Tim Gredley said: "We are delighted with how she has run but I would say it's 50-50 whether she goes to the Oaks or the Ribblesdale. We'll leave it to the trainer."
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