Falakeyah Oaks latest: “The trip and track are the question marks"

A decision over Falakeyah’s Betfred Oaks participation is likely to be made by the end of the week, according to the star filly’s trainer Owen Burrows.

The daughter of New Bay wowed at Newmarket in the Pretty Polly Stakes to enter Classic reckoning, and after electing against dropping back in trip for a shot at the Irish 1,000 Guineas, connections are still weighing up the pros and cons of an Epsom bid, with the undulations of the famous Downs giving Burrows cause for thought.

“Possibly by the end of the week we will have an answer,” he said.

“The trip and track are the question marks and if Epsom was a bit more of a conventional track maybe it wouldn’t be so much a decision.

“Just with the undulations of Epsom, and she’s a big girl who who likes to get on with it, we have plenty to think about, even though I’m adamant she’ll relax up behind something as long as they are going a nice gallop.”

Of course a shot at the Oaks would see Falakeyah step up an extra two furlongs from the mile-and-a-quarter distance she dazzled over on the Rowley Mile, while a trip to Chantilly on June 15 for the French equivalent would see her remain at the trip she excelled first time out this season.

Also factored into the decision making process will be the Epsom credentials of Saeed bin Suroor’s 1000 Guineas fourth Elwateen who could well be added into the mix by owners Shadwell at Saturday’s supplementary stage.

Burrows added: “You have then got to think New Bays, do they stay? There is numerous things to consider and people adding in their opinion as such and it’s an important decision so we just want to get it right.

“The owners also have Saeed’s horse and she might well be supplemented and that may free us up to go elsewhere, but we will see.”