'I hope we supplement' - Rogue Millennium enters Oaks picture for Tom Clover
Saturday: SBK Oaks Trial Lingfield
Rogue Millennium thrust herself into the Cazoo Oaks picture when coming from well off the pace to run down Mystic Wells in the shadow of the post, prevailing by just a head under Jack Mitchell for Tom Clover.
To say the daughter of Dubawi is a latecomer to the Classic party might be an understatement, given she made her debut at Wetherby less than a fortnight ago, while as recently as November she was still named Hudud when going through the Tattersalls ring as part of Shadwell's continued streamlining.
While Coral and Ladbrokes both introduced her at 16-1 for their Classic betting and Betfred went 20-1, many bookmakers held fire on quotes given that Rogue Millennium does not currently hold an entry at Epsom.
Oaks Trial: full result, replay and analysis
But Clover quickly brushed aside the notion that her syndicate owners, the Rogues Gallery, would baulk at the £30,000 asking price for late entry.
"We said beforehand if we won, we would [supplement], and I hope we do," said Clover. "She has come from a long way back and she's still learning her job. I feel guilty for not putting her in the Oaks initially but she has flourished and improved with racing."
The upwardly mobile Clover, who was saddling his first stakes winner, can be forgiven having held back on an Oaks entry, given the race closed nearly three weeks before his new star made her debut.
And despite hanging back towards the far rail having challenged wide, the daughter of Dubawi showed a great attitude to get up close home.
Not surprisingly, Mitchell believes there is plenty more to come from such an inexperienced filly.
"I think she was a very smart purchase from Shadwell by Tony Elliott and the Rogues," said Mitchell. "She's a lovely filly. She was actually more professional the first time out than she was there, the track probably caught her out a bit.
"I wanted to get there hands and heels and do it nicely but she was running all over the place and running green. She'll take a big step forward again.
"I'd love to ride her at Epsom. She's had experience of that track today so that should stand her in good stead."
If given the go ahead she will bid to become the first Oaks winner not to race as a two-year-old since Eswarah scored for Michael Jarvis and Hamdan Al Maktoum in 2005.
The Kremlin House team could not have enjoyed a better afternoon at Lingfield, given United Nations gave a major form boost to the Blue Riband Trial in which Clover's Zain Sarinda finished third.
George Boughey was the man of the hour at Newmarket a week ago and while Cachet is heading to Longchamp next Sunday to attempt the Guineas double, he clearly has another smart filly on his hands with Mystic Wells, who may now be aimed at Royal Ascot for a crack at the Ribblesdale Stakes.
Representing the red-hot duo of Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien, Naas maiden winner Emily Dickinson failed to pick up in the straight, though she will have learned plenty under no more than a hand ride in finishing fifth.
Read more:
It's Moore and Aidan O'Brien again as United Nations lands Derby Trial
Analysis Centre: 'Tranquil Lady's high cruising speed makes her a player in the Oaks for sure'
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