Oaks: Emily Upjohn and Frankie Dettori aiming to deliver Epsom success

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Doyle has already broken several records in her career

The first day of the Epsom Festival will see 11 of the best fillies compete in the Cazoo Oaks on Friday with a 拢311,905 prize pot available.

Big favourite at 5-4 for the mile-and-a-half race is Emily Upjohn, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Second-favourite Nashwa, also a John Gosden-trained filly, offers Hollie Doyle the opportunity to become the first female jockey to win a British Classic.

"She's everything you would want in a racehorse at the moment," said Doyle of the 9-2 shot.

Emily Upjohn, the daughter of Sea The Stars and drawn in stall five, cemented her status as the bookmakers' top pick for the Oaks last month with a convincing victory in the Musidora Stakes at York.

If she succeeds, not only will it stretch her unbeaten run to four races, it will also hand jockey Dettori his seventh win in the Group 1 feature event. The Italian rode the Aidan O'Brien-trained Snowfall through soggy conditions last year to win by a record 16 lengths.

O'Brien has his sights set on a 10th Oaks triumph and brings four horses to the third of the five Classics this bank holiday weekend.

Two of his Ballydoyle contingent, Tuesday and Concert Hall, were second and third respectively at the Irish 1,000 Guineas, while Thoughts Of June was a Cheshire Oaks winner last month. Likely outsider The Algarve makes up the quartet.

Doyle and Nashwa have been drawn alongside stablemate Emily Upjohn in stall six for the big race at Epsom.

Nashwa has secured wins at Haydock and Newbury in the last couple of months and Doyle knows the daughter of Frankel could make her mark on Friday.

"It's a great opportunity to get a ride with such a live chance," Doyle said.

The 25-year-old has already broken several records in her career, including riding a five-timer at Windsor in 2020 and setting a new mark for the most wins by a British female rider in one year.

Asked what she thought it would mean for horse racing and women's sport to win the Oaks, Doyle said: "Look at the reaction there was when Rachael Blackmore won the Grand National. It's one of the toughest horse races in the world to win, and she did that.

"If I could win a British Classic, it would be a dream come true for me personally but I suppose it could hopefully inspire other women to get into the sport. I really appreciate how important it is to realise how you are inspiring others."