Named after Lord Derby's splendid mansion near Epsom, just south of London, the 1-1/2 miles race run at Epsom Downs each June, known as the Epsom Oaks, provides three-year-old fillies with an opportunity for classic glory. Once again sponsored by Investec, this year's running is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. BST (8:35 p.m. IST) on Friday, June 4th, and has drawn 17 female members of the crop of 2007.

Top of the market is the unbeaten Aviate (Dansili-Emplane, by Irish River), yet another budding star from Juddmonte, who is currently at the realistic price of 9 to 2. Winner of the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Gr. 3) at York, the Henry Cecil-trained filly will be ridden by Tom Queally, who chose her over Cecil's other runner, Timepiece. Queally is bidding for his first success in the race, while Cecil has been in the winner's enclosure after the race on no less than eight occasions, which is by any measure an extraordinary feat!

Fillies coming off a start in the Musidora Stakes have provided three Oaks winners in the past 20 years, namely Reams of Verse (1997), Alexandrova (2006), and last year's heroine, Sariska, who incidentally just held off the Cecil-trained Midday by a head. Many progeny of Dansili, such as Rail Link and Zambezi Sun, have stayed well, so despite her "10-furlongs pedigree" Aviate should get the trip – more so since she switches off well and comes with a late rush.

Next in demand at 5 to 1 is the superbly-bred Rumoush (Rahy-Sarayir, by Mr. Prospec-tor-Height Of Fashion) from the yard of Marcus Tregoning. Winner of her first two starts, the Shadwell home-bred, who sports the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, finished only seventh in the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1) at Newmarket last month. Before concluding that she blotted her copybook by that effort, it must be remembered that she was drawn on the unfavourable far side, where the slower ground impeded progress. Like Aviate, she is not guaranteed to stay beyond 10 furlongs, although she probably will get further.

Seen out in public only once in her lifetime, Sajjhaa (King's Best-Anaamil, by Darshaan) from Michael Jarvis' yard was so impressive with her 7-lengths victory in a maiden that she has been promoted to third choice in the betting at 7 to 1. With Godolphin's Hibaayeb a late scratch, Frankie Dettori is now free to take his place in the saddle on Sheikh Ahmed's filly. It's worth recalling that her dam also won impressively in a maiden for the same connections and took her chance in a 1-1/2 mile event at her second start (the Ribblesdale Stakes, Gr.2), a move which flopped badly. Frankly, Sajjhaa is at too a short price for such an inexperienced runner.

At a similar price is Cecil's other runner Timepiece (Zamindar-Clepsydra, by Sadler's Wells), another Juddmonte homebred. By the sire of Arc Victress Zarkava out of a winner at a mile and a half, Timepiece should stay the distance – her half-brother Father Time certainly did when annexing the King Edward VII Stakes (Gr. 2) last year. What's more, she has already essayed the trip of the totesportcasino.com Lingfield Oaks Trial Stakes (L.), which is only about 125 yards shorter than the Oaks. With five starts under her belt, she also has more experience than those better fancied.

Those whose pedigrees are rich in stamina elements, and who are not without hope based on their current form, include Akdarena (Hernando-Akdariya, by Shirley Heights), Gertrude Bell (Sinndar-Sugar Mill, by Polar Falcon) and Champagnelifestyle (Montjeu-White Rose, by Platini). The first-named is a relentless galloper who usually races in blinkers; Jim Bolger's charge could well make all if she is good enough. Gertrude Bell was a mere length in front of Champagnelifestyle in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks last month. None of the remainder appeal, but then neither did 50 to 1 Jet Ski Lady before she shocked all in 1991! It boils down to a clash between Aviate, Timepiece and Akdarena, who are fancied in that order.