The five English Classic races each date back at least 200 years, without a female jockey rider having won any of them.
  
That historic omission could disappear when Hollie Doyle partners likely second favourite Nashwa in the G1 Oaks Stakes (2424m) at Epsom on Friday (3 June), for which 11 fillies have been declared.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle the 25-year-old will face comes from Emily Upjohn, ridden by a jockey with a very different profile. Frankie Dettori will attempt to win his 22nd English Classic aboard this unbeaten filly and the 51-year-old’s remarkable big-race record being one reason why she will surely start a warm favourite for this three-year-old championship event for fillies.

But Doyle, who has already broken records including most wins by a British female rider in one year, is not shy in talking up the prospects of Nashwa who stormed into Oaks reckoning when breezing from last to first in last month’s Listed Fillies’ Trial Stakes (2000m) at Newbury. The rider was highly complimentary of the daughter of Frankel straight after that and said this week: "She ticks a lot of the boxes that need ticking. She’s a dream ride really, a lovely mind, a great attitude."

Although Nashwa and Emily Upjohn have never worked together at home, they are both trained by John and Thady Gosden. Of Nashwa John Gosden says: "She has so much speed. I’m hopeful she will get the Oaks trip but it is not guaranteed."

And it is worth remembering that although much of the 2424m journey is downhill, there is a rise of about 41m over the first 1000m with that uncompromising early climb making the Oaks a proper stamina test.
  
According to Gosden, there are no stamina worries for Emily Upjohn, a bargain 60,000 Guineas (approx. HK$620,000) purchase with the daughter of Sea The Stars having won her two starts this year by a total of 15 lengths – most significantly when surging clear of her rivals in the G3 Musidora Stakes (2051m) at York in May.

"Emily Upjohn will get the trip and I hope she has the speed for this also, she certainly quickened up impressively in the Musidora,” Gosden said.

The ground at Epsom has eased to good to soft currently and the great Newmarket-based trainer adds: "Those conditions will be fine, but she would also be happy if it became much quicker."

Aidan O’Brien has won the Oaks six times in the last ten years and has three classy candidates in Tuesday, Concert Hall and Thoughts Of June plus outsider The Algarve.

Although Tuesday and Concert Hall were both overwhelmed by the acceleration of Homeless Songs in last month’s G1 Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) at The Curragh, both could significantly improve when confronted by the longer Oaks trip. And Thoughts Of June’s victory around Chester’s tight bends when winning May’s Listed Cheshire Oaks (2268m) represented a clear career-best achievement, also boosted subsequently by second placed Above The Curve winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) at Longchamp last Sunday (29 May).

O’Brien’s son Joseph also has a serious contender in Tranquil Lady, easy winner of the G3 Blue Wind Stakes (2000m) at Naas early in May. She will be ridden for the first time by Tom Marquand – the husband of Hollie Doyle – but you can be sure there will be no compromise between this married couple when the gates open at Epsom on Friday.

The other G1 on Friday is the Coronation Cup when older horses do battle over the same 2424m trip as the Oaks. One of the major players is Frankie Dettori’s mount Pyledriver, the winner in 2021 and second to Glory Vase in last December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.