Elwateen under the microscope for Oaks supplementary bid

Elwateen, fourth in the 1000 Guineas on just the second start of her career, could still be supplemented for the Betfred Oaks.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained filly ran a hugely meritorious race at Newmarket for one so inexperienced and despite not being entered for the Epsom Classic, that was initially where Bin Suroor pointed.

She is owned by Shadwell, however, who also have the well-fancied Owen Burrows-trained Pretty Polly winner Falakeyah engaged at Epsom to put them in a quandary.

“With Elwateen and Falakeyah, it is all up for discussion. There is a chance Elwateen could be supplemented for the Oaks,” said Shadwell’s racing manager, Angus Gold.

“Elwateen is also in the Coronation (at Royal Ascot). She will work early next week, we’ll have a discussion with everybody together, put our heads together and see what everybody thinks, but there is certainly a chance she could be supplemented.

“We wouldn’t know about stamina for Elwateen until she runs, but on pedigree she’d have no trouble staying a mile and a quarter and Jim (Crowley) said she went to the top of the hill at Newmarket, so it’s just a question of if we think it’s the right road to go down.

“We won’t make any decisions this week, it will be early next week I’d imagine. We’ll play with the extra time until Elwateen would need to be supplemented.”

Regarding their suitability for Epsom, Gold said: “We’d take into account whether Falakeyah’s action would be suited to Epsom, but everyone knows now about Epsom – you never know how they’ll handle it until they get there.

“Remember Nashwan was a great big horse, but he was beautifully balanced and just sailed around there. All the jockeys say you’ve got to travel to be able to handle it and if you are off the bridle coming down the hill you can forget it.

“Falakeyah is already in at Epsom and she’s in the French Oaks, but she’s not in the Coronation (Stakes) because I didn’t expect Jim to say he wouldn’t be against coming back to a mile like he did!

“Too much speed is a nice problem to have, in my experience it is usually the other way round! Hopefully they are two nice fillies.”