Vodafone Oaks Betting Update

Leading Vodafone Oaks fancies Dash To The Top and Playful Act were on Wednesday ruled out of the fillies' classic at Epsom on June 3.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> As a result, the Michael Jarvis-trained filly Eswarah hardened at the head of the market for the mile-and-a-half contest. The Hamdal Al-Maktoum filly, who has impressed in winning her two sole starts to date including a Listed race at Newbury last time, is generally a 5-2 shot, but is as short as 9-4 with some firms. Conversely, 1,000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters has drifted out to a top-priced 4-1 with Coral. That firm were the first to remove Footstepsinthesand from the betting for the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 21, therefore it would appear that they have their finger on the pulse with regards to Aidan O'Brien-trained runners and, as such, their may be doubts regarding her participation. I must stress, however, that this is merely conjecture at this stage and is not something which has been officially corroborated. Virginia Waters will bid to follow up her Guineas win in the Irish equivalent on May 22. If she performs adequately there and comes out of the race well she may still go to Epsom, although the signs are that she may head for the Coronation Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot at York next month instead. The David Elsworth stable's hot streak shows no sign of abating and Something Exciting underlined her potential by winning the Lupe Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday in decisive fashion. Held up off the pace, jockey Richard Quinn rode a patient race before producing his filly over a furlong from home and she quickly settled the issue in a matter of strides. The daughter of Halling could be backed at around 20-1 before the race but is now a top-priced 12-1, while Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cassydora is available at 9-2. She is one of the few entries with proven stamina and is as short as 7-2 in some bookies' lists. Elsewhere the unbeaten Khaled Abdullah-owned filly Fashionable is generally 16-1 and Aidan O'Brien has French 1,000 Guineas fourth Silk And Scarlet as an intended runner. She is a best-priced 16-1.