DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CHESHIRE OAKS PREVIEW

Stakes next time (Sisyphus Strength again finished fourth) and made a pleasing return when fourth in the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Although she was beaten 10½ lengths, it was a very good run and that collateral form line is probably the strongest on offer. Frankie Detorri rides Luckin Brew for the first time and she is bred to relish the trip.

Sirona is the highest-rated filly in the field, but she finished only eighth in the Tankard Stakes and has over 20 lengths to find with Luckin Brew. Clearly not at her best on the day, she had earlier won a Listed race in Germany, so again carries a 3lbs penalty for the Charlie Johnston team.

Cite d’Or is vastly experienced and reverts to racing against her own sex, having finished third in the Blue Riband at Epsom last time, whilst There’s The Door is another who arrives in form, having won a Doncaster handicap on soft ground in early-April. That win came off just 83, however, so David Evans’ filly needs to take another big step forward.

The aforementioned Sisyphus Strength represents the 2000 Guineas-winning stable of Andrew Balding, but looks to have a bit to find with Luckin Brew on a couple of bits of form, whilst both Ashtanga and Wintercrack arrive here on the back of winning a maiden, respectively at Nottingham and Leicester. The former won nicely back in October and is the more interesting of the pair. Being by Nathaniel, she should appreciate both the trip and the rain-softened ground.

The 80-rated Ermesinde completes the line-up and she was trapped wide when beaten at odds-on last time. That is far from ideal around the sharp bends of Lingfield, although she would still need to put forward a much-improved effort, as that form has been let down since.

Paul Ferguson

Weatherbys

The 2022 reneweal of the Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro

Cheshire Oaks saw Thoughts Of June make it a seventh success in the race for Aidan O’Brien.

Thoughts Of June had raced just twice as a two-year-old and showed a fair bit of potential in her debut, an impressive second in a pretty strong Cork Maiden behind Treavaunance (who has since gone onto win a Group 2 and Group 3 in Deauville). She appeared to struggle next time out at Leopardstown, however. She looked much improved on reappearance in April 2022 as her three-year-old campaign began, running in second behind the classy Above The Curve. It was a strong performance but ultimately, she found herself outmatched and so came into the Cheshire Oaks, not quite as an outsider, but certainly not as fancied as some of her rivals. This would prove to be the first victory of her fledgling career as

Aidan O’Brien set his sights on the Oaks at Epsom in June.

Aidan O’Brien has always done well in this race with this win marking his fifth success in the last eleven renewals of this race so it was no surprise to see him score another winner here.

Ryan Moore was in the saddle of Thoughts Of June, continuing the partnership that had led to that impressive second at Leopardstown a month prior. We had a rematch of sorts as Shane Crosse continued aboard last time out rival Above The Curve for trainer Joseph Patrick O’Brien. These two had gone head-to-heard just 28 days previously, with Above The Curve comfortably coming out on top. There was no shortage of top jockeys on show as Frankie Dettori took the ride aboard the Gosden trained Morning Poem and Tom Marquand rode William Haggas’ Hello Jumeirah. The dark horse Moon De Vega was ridden by Rob Hornby and David Probert was aboard the impressive Typewriter.

From her draw in stall eight, Thoughts Of June sped to the front, taking the lead within the first furlong. Ryan Moore kept the filly at the front of the pack with the outsiders Morning Poem and Improvise for company. Shane Crosse kept Above The Curve in midfield, waiting for a chance to strike, these two mirroring their starts from Leopardstown.

Moore pushed his ride along around the four-furlong mark before pushing the pace further in the home turn. It was here that Above The Curve made her move. She had