Organisers at Haydock Racecourse are preparing for one of their busiest days of the year when they host their Lancashire Oaks meeting in July. This race sees some of the leading middle-distance fillies and mares compete over the distance of one mile and four furlongs.
A total of £115,000 is available in prize money for the Haydock feature, with the winning horse picking up just over £65,000 for their connections.
John Gosden Has Dominated the Lancashire Oaks
Trainer John Gosden has won the Lancashire a record nine times, including in 2022 when Free Wind was successful. Gosden now trains alongside his son Thady, and they will be hoping for more success at Haydock in 2023.
A third Group success for Free Wind in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. The daughter of @coolmorestud late Galileo was bred by Sue Ann Foley and sold to @BlandfordBldstk for 325,000gns from Tattersalls Book 1. She is out of the Listed-winning Duke Of Marmalade mare Alive Alive Oh. pic.twitter.com/cwaQHMAagL
— Racing Post Bloodstock (@rpbloodstock) July 2, 2022
Free Wind could be set to defend her crown this year, where she will be looking to become only the second repeat winner of this race. Barshiba was the first to do so, as she was successful in 2009 and 2010. Gosden’s mare made a winning start to the campaign at the Dante Festival at York when she won the Group Two Middleton Fillies’ Stakes.
Frankie Dettori is likely to board Free Wind in what is set to be his final ride in the Lancashire Oaks. The former Champion Jockey is set to retire from the saddle later this year, bringing an end to what has been a glittering career for the Italian.
Andrew Balding Vying for More Success at Haydock
Berkshire-based trainer Andrew Balding is another trainer who has had success in the Lancashire Oaks before. He saddled Horseplay before her victory in 2018. She clocked the fastest time since 2006 when she passed the winning line in 2 mins 28 seconds.
Balding has made an excellent start to the 2023 Flat Season. The highlight for him so far was Chaldean’s victory in the 2,000 Guineas, the opening British Classic of 2023. Sea Of Roses and Sisyphus Strength are two of his fillies that may feature in the Lancashire Oaks.
The Classic winner is one of the trainers you can get involved in racehorse ownership with. He trains Scampi for RaceShare, a horse in which shares can be purchased from as little as £59. The horse has already been victorious three times and now has a rating of 95 on the track. Balding recently featured on the Amazon documentary Horsepower, where he showcased his impressive training operation.
Soul Sister Could Feature at Epsom Oaks Winner
If Soul Sister can prevail in the Lancashire Oaks this season, she will become the first filly to win that race after scoring at Epsom in the Oaks earlier in the same campaign. The three-year-old has shown she is one of the leading fillies of her generation.
Soul Sister exceptional as @FrankieDettori wins his SEVENTH Oaks at @EpsomRacecourse 😮 pic.twitter.com/XQv25RKJHg
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) June 2, 2023
Soul Sister is the daughter of Frankel, who is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses in history. Her connections will be hoping she goes on to replicate some of the things her sire achieved on the track. She could feature in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of the season, while a trip across the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, California is also a possibility for her.
The 2023 Lancashire Oaks takes place on the 8th of July, and all the information you may need about the meeting can be found on Haydock’s official website.