Monday 14 May 2018 12:04, UK
Cheshire Oaks heroine Magic Wand is set to spearhead Aidan O'Brien's assault on the Investec Oaks at Epsom.
The daughter of Galileo comfortably saw off stablemate Forever Together on the Roodee last Wednesday and both fillies are likely to bid for Classic glory on June 1.
Magical, who was declared a non-runner in Sunday's Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, is also bound for Epsom, while 1000 Guineas third Happily is less likely to make the trip.
O'Brien: "I was talking to Ryan (Moore) about it yesterday. Nothing is decided, but we're thinking maybe the two fillies from Chester (will run in the Oaks).
"We were thinking about Happily, but we might go to the Irish Guineas with her. After that we might look at the French Oaks. She's not guaranteed to get a mile and a half that filly.
"Magical didn't run on Sunday because of the ground. She could go straight to Epsom.
"Before we could run fillies in the Irish Guineas and then go on to Epsom, because there was an extra five or seven days between.
"This year there's not, so we can't do the two."
Two other Ballydoyle inmates who will not be heading to Epsom are Clemmie and September.
Clemmie missed the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after suffering a setback, while September is also on the easy list.
O'Brien said: "Clemmie is going to start in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and because she had a little setback we have to be very careful.
"We can't lean very hard on her, but we're going to run in the Irish Guineas with a view that it will leave her right for (Royal) Ascot.
"She was a little bit wrong behind. We think she tweaked a muscle and we could never really find anything on the X-rays or scans, but she wasn't 100 per cent in her trot.
"She is now and she's working very well, but the reality is if Clemmie runs a nice race in the Irish Guineas and finishes in the first four or five, we'll be very happy going to Ascot.
"If she comes out of it OK there's going to be a lot of improvement in her."
Of September, he added: "She is still trotting. She's nearly 100 per cent, but she's not sound enough to canter yet.
"We'll go gentle with her, so she won't make Epsom."
