EPSOM DOWNS 16:00

All 17 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +17 yds

Time: 2m 34.89s

Overrounds: Industry SP 123%, Betfair SP 101.4%

A large-field Oaks that had a deep look to it, the likes of Irish 1000-Guineas winner Marvellous and impressive trial winners Taghrooda and Tarfasha already having achieved form above or close to the average standard of a recent Oaks winner, and it lived up to expectations, Taghrooda putting up the best performance in this race since Sariska beat Midday in a tight finish in 2009; the gallop was sound but, not unusually for this track, a handy position was certainly no disadvantage, and the likes of Inchila and Ihtimal should be rated as finishing closer having not had ideal trips in attempting to come from towards the rear.

TAGHROODA proved herself to be the calibre of filly that she'd looked when romping away with the Pretty Polly on her return 4 weeks ago and could well be the first genuinely high-class Oaks-winning filly there's been for a while, achieving more than most have in this race and maintaining her unbeaten record with a really authoritative display, value for a little extra, too; to go with her talent Taghrooda seems to have an excellent temperament, handling this bigger occasion well, not turning a hair in the preliminaries, and in the race itself she was most professional, out fast from a middle draw to get a handy position and travelling powerfully, getting slightly lit up coming down the hill into the straight but held together by Hanagan before produced to lead 2f out, sealing things swiftly and staying on strongly; her strength to the line over this 2f longer trip suggests that she'll stay even further (dam won over 1¾m), potentially a big St Leger candidate for later in the season, but that's not to say she's going to prove reliant on a stamina test as above all this performance simply smacked of quality, and shorter term she's likely to be kept to this trip for the Irish Oaks, in which she's bound to take all the beating; this was an inaugural Group 1 winner for Sea The Stars as a sire - from his first crop - and, like his half-brother Galileo, it looks as if he's likely to prove a major success at stud, his progeny unsurprisingly the types to progress with more time/distance; it was also a first Oaks winner for trainer John Gosden, whilst jockey Paul Hanagan opened his account in classics.

TARFASHA (IRE) attracted a lot of support after her impressive reappearance win against older horses and backed up all and more of the improvement shown on that occasion, coping as expected with the higher grade/longer trip and simply up against an above-average Oaks winner in Taghrooda; mid-division, travelled well, headway home turn, driven over 1f out, kept on, knuckling down well to get the better of Volume for second place; she's bred to stay beyond 1½m, increasing options later on, and will be adding more pattern wins to her record over the course of the season.

VOLUME has steadily been brought through the ranks, gradually upped in trip and grade, an approach typical of her trainer, and with every single run she's raised her game, this a smart effort to be classic-placed; she had to work quite hard early to get across to lead from the widest draw and, although not harried, Hughes set a fair pace, headed 2f out and sticking to her task after briefly looking unbalanced on the camber; it'll be tough reopposing Taghrooda in the Irish Oaks, which is apparently the plan, but she's bound to run well again there, especially as the galloping nature of that track could well suit her more.

INCHILA is progressing well, even more so than her bare form suggests, better than the bare result at both Newbury last time and once again here, unlucky not to finish a clear second and rated accordingly; she had a lot to do immediately, steadied to race in last place, travelling fluently, and after making stylish headway from 3f out she met plenty of trouble, finally in the clear once switched left 1f out and running on, having more to give at the line; the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot should be a good opportunity for her to underline the full extent of her ability.

IHTIMAL (IRE) has now run big races in two classics, third in the Guineas 4 weeks ago, and might well have filled the same position if she'd had a cleaner run, worth rating upsides the placed pair, the 3f longer trip not seeming a problem, although she is a filly with plenty of speed and it'll be no surprise if ultimately 1¼m does prove ideal (yet to try that distance); she was more patiently ridden than on recent starts, still a long way back entering the straight, forced very wide to ensure a clear run and keeping on, not ideally placed; it's worth noting that she is developing physically, not so light-framed now as she was, and if she strengthens even more then there could be better still to come.

MARVELLOUS (IRE) is much better than this, hard to knock her Irish 1000 Guineas win, and there are various reasons to excuse this run, not seeming to handle the track that well, possibly stretched by the 4f longer trip and also maybe finding it coming too soon after a big effort at the Curragh; mid-field, ridden over 3f out, beaten over 1f out, faded.

PALACE (IRE) produced her best effort to date over this 4f longer trip but essentially found the competition too hot in another Group 1; raced off the pace, headway under pressure 3f out, plugged on, never a threat; may improve her rating a bit more if/when her sights are lowered.

MOMENTUS (IRE) has been highly tried for one so inexperienced, still a maiden and having just her third start here, facing a very stiff task, but she ran as well as could be expected, continuing her run-to-run progress, and it ought to help her development further; mid-field, pushed along 3f out, one paced, no match for principals; she's a big, good-looking filly and remains open to improvement, easy to envisage her winning in listed company at least before too long.

LILY RULES (IRE) typically ran her race, even though slightly hampered as she started a move from towards the rear, though she was only running on past beaten horses late in the day and essentially found it tough in a Group 1.

MADAME CHIANG won a weakish renewal of the Musidora, proven here as herself, Lily Rules and Regardez all finished down the field, but York is still the race to judge her on as neither the unique track or firmer ground conditions were in her favour, off the bridle before most, labouring 3f out and never on terms; she should be suited by at least 1½m.

ISLAND REMEDE was flying too high in this grade and never got out of rear division.

REGARDEZ was stretched by the 2f longer trip and not up to this better company, either; chased leader, lost place early in straight, weakened; may prove best at around 1¼m.

MARSH DAISY who was supplemented after winning a listed event at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago, ran below form but has excuses, possibly unsuited by the firmer ground than she'd encountered before; tracked pace, struggling over 2f out, not persevered with once held.

DAZZLING (IRE) was beaten by more than lack of stamina over 2f longer trip, basically out of depth; chased leaders, folded 3f out.

ANIPA was seen to best advantage in the Cheshire Oaks, plus this was an altogether different test again at Group 1 level, and she wasn't up to the task, folding tamely over 2f out.

HONOR BOUND faced a stiff task, her trial win at Lingfield not amounting to a lot in the context of this race, but can't have been 100% on the day, always behind and eased off; she was fitted with a hood, incidentally.

AMAZING MARIA (IRE) would surely have been better off waiting for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in a couple of weeks time, never likely to stay this markedly longer trip having raced only at 6f/7f as a juvenile, and she folded tamely early in the straight; on the evidence of last season, she is a potentially smart filly at around 1m.