03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Trad Jazz aiming to turn on the style, with Oaks bid in the offing
Her daughter made her debut at Kempton in the summer and easily claimed a mile maiden, after which she made her seasonal return at the same track when winning over a mile and three furlongs last month.
Now she turns her attention to grass at Listed level over 10 furlongs, as connections seek to find out how justified their Classic aspirations are.
'She hasn't run on turf yet, but she's going really well at home and we really like her,' said Owen.
'I would just like a little bit of rain and it doesn't look like it's going to come, but as long as it is safe we'll be running. She's a big filly who has grown a lot and she will come on again for this run.
'We were going to run her in a Listed race at the end of last season, but she just wasn't right and just needed time so that kind of forced our hand a bit, but the Kempton comeback was ideal.
'We hope she's an Oaks filly and we'll find out on Sunday.'
Opposing Trad Jazz will be Sand Gazelle, who makes the second start of her career having impressed when winning a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton in December.
John Gosden, who trains the Frankel filly alongside his son, Thady, said: 'Sand Gazelle looked very good on debut, but she has been very slow to come to herself in her coat. What you forget is you have this summer weather now, but we have had very cold nights and we had frosts up until two weeks ago.
'A lot of the fillies have stayed like those buds in spring, a little bit tight, but now they are beginning to open and flower up.'
The Gosdens also run Life Is Beautiful, with David Menuisier's Janey Mackers, Owen Burrows' Falakeyah and the William Haggas'-trained Anna Swan all set to line up in what should be an informative affair.
Clarehaven have a live chance in the Betfred Dahlia Stakes, too, with last season's runner-up Running Lion heading the market.
The grey has the capacity to be rather mercurial as her record proves, and can alternate between smart victories and head-scratching defeats. The ability is clearly not lacking, however, and Gosden senior hopes she is in the right mood on the Rowley Mile.
He said: 'She's in good form and I hope she very much has an 'on' day.
'She ran a great race behind Friendly Soul in the Prix de l'Opera and she's a highly talented mare. She's probably at her best over a mile and a quarter and a stiff one at that.'
Elsewhere in the race is Roger Varian's Elmalka, winner of the 1000 Guineas last year but unable to get her head in front since.
