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Trainer Charlie Hills is hoping Cambridge can put herself firmly in the Investec Oaks picture when she reappears in the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs at York on May 14
The imposing daughter of Rail Link is already a 12/1 chance for the 12-furlong Epsom Downs Classic with Coral, the official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, following a smooth debut success in a mile maiden at Nottingham in October.
Owned by Khalid Abdullah, Cambridge will be looking to follow in the hoofprints of the Michael Bell-trained Sariska, who became the sixth filly since 1960 to complete the Musidora Stakes-Investec Oaks double in 2009.
Hills revealed: "Cambridge had a racecourse gallop with Kiyoshi at the Craven Meeting and the plan now is to start off in the Musidora Stakes at York.
"We were pleased with her at Newmarket and she is obviously unexposed having just had the one run. She is a tall, rangy filly, but her work has always been very, very good.
"She has done nothing but please us in everything she has done this spring and I would disappointed if she did not develop into an Investec Oaks contender."
Plenty of Investec Oaks clues will be on offer this weekend when Newmarket stages its two-day QIPCO Guineas Festival.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Bracelet, Coral's 7/1 favourite for the Investec Oaks, and Tapestry (8/1 with Coral) are both set to line up in Sunday's QIPCO 1000 Guineas, while John Gosden's highly regarded Newmarket maiden scorer Taghrooda (10/1) is likely to kick off her season in the Listed Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes on the same day.
The entries for the 10-furlong contest, which went the way of Investec Oaks winner Talent last term, also include potential Investec Oaks candidates Madame Chiang (David Simcock), Casual Smile (Andrew Balding, 25/1) and Sound Reflection (Charlie Appleby, 25/1).
Investec Derby clues
There are also set to be some Investec Derby clues in the coming days at Newmarket, Chester and in France.
Australia (Aidan O'Brien), Coral 9/4 favourite for the Investec Derby, is set to start off his season in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket on Saturday, May 3, in which fellow Investec Derby entries Kingston Hill (Roger Varian, 10/1) and Night Of Thunder (Richard Hannon, 33/1) are also due to line up.
A total of 37 horses have completed the Newmarket/Epsom Downs double, most recently the O'Brien-trained Camelot in 2012.
Also on Saturday is the Group Two Prix Greffhule at Saint-Cloud, France. This 10-furlong contest was won by Pour Moi en route to his 2011 Investec Derby success. Norse Prize (Myriam Bollack-Badel, 50/1) was added to the Investec Derby at the second entry stage and has been declared for the French race.
Action moves on to Chester next week where there are two recognised Investec Derby Trials - the Group Three MBNA Chester Vase (Thursday, May 8) and the Listed Betfair Cash Out Dee Stakes (Friday, May 9).
On April 25 Western Hymn (John Gosden) justified favouritism in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park and is now unbeaten in three starts. Currently rated a 14/1 with Coral, he is set to take in the Group Two Betfred Dante Stakes at York on May 15 next time out as is Godolphin's progressive True Story (Saeed bin Suroor, 8/1 second favourite).
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