2025 Epsom Oaks News - Key Quotes From Connections
The 2025 Epsom Oaks promises a thrilling contest with nine top fillies set to compete. Desert Flower, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, raises questions about her endurance over a mile and a half. Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien's trio, Minnie Hauk, Giselle, and Whirl, each bring distinct strengths and improvements. Ralph Beckett’s Revoir is expected to benefit from the progression and a step-up in distance. Other contenders include Elwateen, expected to thrive over the longer trip, and Qilin Queen, praised for her stamina. Each filly presents a strong case, adding layers of excitement to the prestigious race.
- Key quotes from connections ahead of the 2025 Epsom Oaks
- This Classic takes place at Epsom on Friday 6th June
- Read quotes from Aidan O'Brien, Charlie Appleby, Ralph Beckett and more
The 2025 renewal of the Epsom Oaks is fast approaching and 9 top fillies have been confirmed for Friday's Classic feature.
We've taken a look through the world of horse racing media to bring you quotes from the connections of the leading Epsom Oaks contender.
2025 Epsom Oaks Quotes
Charlie Appleby (Desert Flower)
Desert Flower has been faultless to date and looks great. We all know that the trip is going to be the question mark, and we won’t know whether she stays until we run her over it. She looks like a filly who will get a mile and a half and, as far as we are concerned, she has won the best trial for the race.
William Buick (Desert Flower)
I think she’s tactically very versatile, but as she’s only run over a mile you would have to ride her slightly accordingly. But I do think she’s very versatile – each time I’ve ridden her she has adapted to the race scenario.
We could have kept her at a mile, it was put across the table as a plan, but we all felt she would get further. Whether that is a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half, we will see on Friday.
Aidan O'Brien (Minnie Hauk, Giselle and Whirl)
Minnie Hauk was just ready to start (before winning at Chester). We always liked her last year. She's come forward a lot since Chester. Her work the last morning was very good.
She's a beautiful, big Frankel filly. A good, high cruiser. She shows loads of class in her work, and more now than she did going to Chester, so it'll be interesting with her.
Giselle was just barely ready to go racing (before Lingfield). She was nearly at The Lion In Winter's stage. She'd never galloped, never been let off the bridle in her work, because she got very keen over the winter and into the spring, so we had to be very careful training her.
She had a couple of blows in the straight at Lingfield and still won very easily. She's improved a lot since then. She's a strong traveller, and can be over strong, but her work the other morning was a massive improvement. She has a very strong possible chance in the Epsom Oaks.
Whirl is very straightforward. She's by Wootton Bassett, so we think she'll get a mile-and-a-half. She's relaxed, a good traveller, and she kept going really well when she won the Musidora.
She's uncomplicated. Obviously you're never sure, but we think there's a very good chance that she'll get a mile-and-a-half. She was fit going into the Musidora, but so far so good with her. She's lovely.
Ralph Beckett (Revoir)
I think she should come forward for the run at Newbury. I felt it was a good starting point, but she was still pretty green through the race. I liked the way she went through the line.
You would think the step up in trip will probably be in her favour. There are stamina influences on her page, but I have slight reservations in the fact that Regardez (her dam) didn’t stay a mile and a half, she got a mile and a quarter well.
This filly is a slightly different character and is more laid-back than her mother was, but we are taking it on trust.
Look Here winning the Oaks when we were at Whitsbury is a big part of what is going on here now. It’s been 17 years and it’s been a big joy to train the family – it’s been a privilege.
Julian and Sarah (Richmond-Watson) are exceptional breeders, they’ve never had more than six broodmares and to come up with not just Look Here but Remarquee, Scope and Kinross in the space of 15 years from six mares is extraordinary. Hopefully this filly is the next cab off the rank.
Saeed bin Suroor (Elwateen)
She ran a really good race in the Guineas and she came out of that well. To finish fourth in the Guineas on just her second run after winning her maiden was very good.
This is her first run over a mile and half, but she should stay because she is nice and relaxed.
I think Epsom will suit her, she’s a nice size and if she settles in the first half of the race I think she’ll stay. The further she goes the better I think. She’s a very nice filly and I think she’ll run well.
Ed Walker (Qilin Queen)
She's so honest and straightforward and I do think staying is no important in an Oaks - and the Derby - and I'm very, very confident that she will stay. It's exciting, I hope the ground doesn't get too soft which would be a little bit of a concern. But we're really looking forward to it.
These fillies, once they've won a stakes race, it's slightly pressure off. She's slightly forgotten as far as the odds are concerned, she's been given no chance at all which doesn't bother us.
I think she'll stay very well whereas plenty will have stamina doubts. She's got lots of experience and I see her running a very solid race.
Joseph O'Brien (Wemightakedlongway)
Wemightakedlongway won her Oaks trial at Navan and she has trained well since then. She has a number of options. She could wait for Ascot or the Pretty Polly in Ireland, but we are strongly fancying her to go to Epsom for the Oaks.
Minnie Hauk was second to her in her maiden win and she is an impressive Oaks trial winner off the back of a good run against the boys, so if we decide to go there with her she is definitely a legitimate contender.
Bobby Flay (Owner of Go Go Boots)
Being able to run in a race like the Oaks is something I've dreamed about. I love British racing, the history and the Oaks and Derby are two of the most important races in the world. To have a horse who John Gosden feels needs to be in that race is an amazing thing.
John thinks the longer trip would suit her better and there's going to be some rain this week which is good as she'd like some cut in the ground.
I went to Epsom for the Derby last year and that was my first time there, it's so unique and one of the great things about racing as you can go all over the world following your horse.
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