Life Of Dreams 'puts herself in Oaks picture' with impressive debut success

Sunday: Newbury

Life Of Dreams capped a sensational week for Charlie Appleby and William Buick when landing the 1m2f fillies' maiden on her debut.

The three-year-old was generally halved in price to 10-1 for the Cazoo Oaks after scoring by three and a half lengths under Buick, who has operated at a strike-rate of more than 40 per cent during the last 14 days.

"She seemed comfortable," said Buick, who won four Group races during the week. "She got to the front quite easily and had a look around. She's done all we can ask of her and it was a good performance.

"You have to let them run first time but I'm sure the Oaks will be considered. It's a good maiden and she's put herself in the picture."

Alex Merriam, assistant trainer to Appleby, added: "She did it nicely. She's a typical Dubawi, with a straightforward attitude. We took our time with her and we'll get her home before coming up with a plan."

Buick and Appleby have been in imperious form and combined to win the Craven with 2,000 Guineas favourite Native Trail at Newmarket and the Fred Darling Stakes with Wild Beauty. They had enjoyed ten winners from 15 runners prior to racing on Sunday.

The trainer struck again in the 1m2f conditions race, which the yard won with St Leger hero Hurricane Lane last season. It has a good record of producing top horses, as Enable finished third in 2017.

The race was reduced to three runners after Grenoble and West Wind Blows were withdrawn, and was won by the odds-on favourite Walk Of Stars, who denied stablemate Hafit in scoring by a neck under James Doyle. He was cut to 12-1 (from 16) for the Derby by Betfair Sportsbook.

"Charlie mentioned if the ground was sensible we'd go for the Dante with the pair of them and see where we go," said Merriam. "They're in the Derby. It wasn't ideal not having a proper race. Walk Of Stars had had only two previous runs and more racing should bring him on again."

Off the mark

Holguin was Andrew Balding's first two-year-old runner of the year and he gave the trainer back-to-back wins in the 5f maiden, run in memory of Classic-winning jockey Joe Mercer, who died last year.

The two-year-old has a tough act to follow in stablemate Berkshire Shadow, who won at Newbury before landing the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he made the perfect start when winning by half a length from Commander Straker under David Probert.

Balding said: "He's our first two-year-old runner so we didn't know what to expect but he's got lots of scope and should be a nice horse. He'll run again before we make a plan but six furlongs looks like it will be his thing."

Before the opening race, a tree was planted alongside a plaque in memory of Mercer by his wife Deanna and all of their grandchildren.

Results, replays and analysis

Cazoo Oaks (June 3)
William Hill: 5 Tuesday, 7 Agave, Inspiral, 10 Life Of Dreams, 14 Above The Curve, 16 bar

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