Havlin to ride Mehdaayih in English Oaks
Robert Havlin retains the ride Mehdaayih as she faces 13 rivals in the Oaks at Epsom with Frankie Dettori choosing stablemate Anapurna.
Havlin partnered the John Gosden-trained Mehdaayih when she ran out an impressive winner of the Cheshire Oaks, with the yard’s No.1 rider Dettori opting for third-placed Fanny Logan that day.
Dettori subsequently rode Anapurna to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial and has decided to stick with that filly, leaving Havlin to maintain his relationship with Mehdaayih.
“You wouldn’t think stamina will be a problem the way she finished off her race on easy ground that day,” Havlin said.
“She wears a hood in the paddock and can get on her toes but once she’s under way she’s very straightforward. Like Anapurna, she wants to get on with things.
“The pair of them are nimble, light-framed fillies and I don’t expect Epsom will give either of them any issues.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Pink Dogwood, who is a sister to Irish Derby winner Latrobe, is the pre-post favourite after winning a Listed race at Navan on her only outing to date this season.
O’Brien also runs Delphina, Fleeting and Peach Tree.
Friday’s Oaks is the second race in the Fillies and Mares category of the 2019 British Champions Series.
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