CHESHIRE OAKS HISTORY

the finish line, it would be as close as Alluringly ever got to Enable in three further jousts. Not that there was any shame in coming off second-best to the most talented filly of her generation. That victory here – in what was the only occasion Enable graced the Roodee – was the springboard to a stunning winning spree, which saw her rack up big-race victory after big-race victory during an unbeaten run of a dozen races over 27 months.

They included a five-length rout of Rhododendron in the Epsom Oaks on her next start, three King Georges, two Arcs, two Yorkshire Oaks, the Irish Oaks, the Coral-Eclipse and a Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

When she was eventually retired in the autumn of 2020, following her second unsuccessful attempt to win what would have been a record-setting third Arc, she did so having won 15 of her 19 races, 11 of them Group 1s, and amassing almost £11million in prize money.

If Enable remains the star pupil to graduate from the Cheshire Oaks, a raft of others have endorsed this Listed race’s status as a leading trial for Classic-class fillies since its inauguration in 1950.

Shoot A Line used her victory in 1980, for Willie Carson and Major Dick Hern, as a stepping stone to a sensational summer of success, which also included wins in the 1980 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Park Hill Stakes.

The Ribblesdale and Irish Oaks were also races which another Prince Khalid filly, Bolas,went on to win in 1994 following her victory here. The 2007 victor Light Shift also added Classic success to her CV by landing the Epsom Oaks on her very next start.

Light Shift was one of three Cheshire Oaks winners for the late, great Sir Henry Cecil, who was widely regarded among his peers for being the finest trainer of fillies. Yet even Cecil couldn’t get close to the seven victories achieved by Barry Hills, who, despite handing over the reins to his son Charlie in 2011, was the winning-most trainer in the history of the Cheshire Oaks. His record has now been matched however. As Thoughts Of June’s victory last year allowed Aidan O’Brien to record his seventh victory of this prestigious contest.

Fact File

Conditions: 3-y-o fillies only

Race distance: 1m 3f about 75 yards

Prize money: £100,000 total prize fund

Historical Background

The Cheshire Oaks has formed part of the May Festival for many years and alongside the two Derby trials, has played a role in providing a similar Oaks-trial opportunity for 3-y-o fillies. Originally run at the same distance as the Chester Vase (the full 1m 4f 63yds), the race distance was reduced by half a furlong in 1987.