2015 Oaks

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Legatissimo, fresh off her strong 1000 Guineas win, where she won going away, was sent off as the 5/2 Oaks favourite. Starting in stall one, she found here eventual conqueror in stall two, not a race for the trends boys given the poor record of those drawn low. Star Of Seville, drawn in six, would lead the race for a significant portion.

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Star Of Seville was the leader over the first 5furlongs, recording a modest time of {{ raceData[8].c5f | number: 2 }}, the first 5furlongs of the course rises 35metres above the starting gates, as highlighted in the elevation plot below. The runners are near the highest point of the course after 5f. The first three home, Qualify, Legatissimo and Lady Of Dubai, were all sat towards the rear of the field, racing in {{ raceData[0].p5f }}, {{ raceData[1].p5f }} and {{ raceData[2].p5f }} respectively, trailing the leaders by >{{ raceData[2].bl5f | number: 2 }}.

Held up behind these three was Crystal Zvezda who pulled hard early, something you don't want to do given the sharp climb over the first 5furlongs. Diamondsandrubies was sat {{ raceData[3].bl5f | number: 2}}seconds behind Star Of Seville, travelling well and getting plenty of cover.

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After 8.5furlongs not much had changed, runners maintained their positions and were similar distances behind the leader, as highlighted in the slopegraph. The last two, Crystal Zvezda (keen early) and Bellajeu were falling away.

Runners were now running downhill, and what the plots can't show you is the position on the track the runners were starting to take up. The eventual front three, having been held up, were going to have to make their efforts wider, while, Diamondsandrubies, who had been sat behind the leaders, would have to find some gaps.

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After 10furlongs, Star Of Seville was still leading from Together Forever, who sat {{ raceData[6].bl10f | number: 2 }}seconds behind. Runners in behind were all starting to close up, with only 2 runners, Crystal Zvezda and Bellajeu, beaten and more than {{ raceData[9].bl10f | number: 2 }}seconds behind, both of whom were held up throughout and never looked dangerous.

The steady pace meant that many were set to fight out the finish, the eventual 4th Diamondsandrubies had made a strong move over the previous ~1.5furlongs, from the path at ~8.5furlongs to the 10furlong pole, the filly was {{ raceData[4].bl8_5f | number: 2 }}seconds behind at the path, and was just {{ raceData[4].bl10f | number: 2 }}seconds behind with 2furlongs to go. Qualify and Legatissimo both made similar moves to Diamondsandrubies, but both were further back, sat in {{ raceData[0].p8_5f }} and {{ raceData[1].p8_5f }} respectively when crossing the path. It was Legatissimo who made a much more aggressive forward move, recording a fastest sectional of {{ raceData[1].s10f | number: 2 }}seconds, while Qualify ran the same sectional in {{ raceData[0].s10f | number: 2 }} and Diamondsandrubies in {{ raceData[4].s10f | number: 2 }}.

The race was beginning to hot up...

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The field was very compact after 10f, and this caused some trouble in running for a number of runners. Some small bumping started on the outside between Legatissimo and Jack Naylor, but given the camber in the downhill straight, the bumps became more and more significant the closer to the rail a horse was. The primary sufferers were Star Of Seville, Together Forever and Diamondsandrubies, but whereas the former two looked likely to be swallowed up by the horses out wide, Diamondsandrubies was beginning to make a smart looking move between Star Of Seville and Together Forever. After the trouble there was no hope.

Legatissimo continued her forward move, with only Qualify recorded a faster sectional from 10 to 11furlongs ({{ raceData[0].s11f | number: 2 }}). However it was Legatissimo who was leading entering the final furlong, albeit narrowly from Lady Of Dubai by {{ raceData[2].bl11f | number: 2 }}seconds, with Qualify a further {{ raceData[0].bl11f - raceData[2].bl11f | number: 2 }}seconds down. Having suffered significant interference Diamondsandrubies had gone from {{ raceData[3].bl10f | number: 2 }}seconds behind the leader (Star Of Seville) after 10furlongs to {{ raceData[3].bl11f | number: 2 }}seconds down on Legatissimo.

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The final furlong saw the front two pull away from the field, the favourite Legatissimo held a sizeable lead, but Qualify put in a blistering final furlong of {{ raceData[0].s12f | number: 2 }}seconds, against Legatissimo's final furlong of {{ raceData[1].s12f | number: 2 }}. Qualify getting up in the final strides, both clear of the third, Lady Of Dubai, while Diamondsandrubies was well beaten, but by no means disgraced given the interference did well to finish fourth.