Gosden thrilled with Legacy Link’s "perfect" outing at Epsom

History has taught John Gosden an early sighter of Epsom always helps and he will send Legacy Link to the Betfred Oaks satisfied she will handle the unique test of the Surrey Downs on Friday week.

The Juddmonte-owned filly first advertised her Classic credentials when fourth in a red-hot Fillies’ Mile in October and is now as short as 100-30 with the sponsors after a winning return in the Musidora at York.

That is a race the Gosden team used to set Soul Sister up for Oaks success in 2023 and confidence in Legacy Link repeating that feat is increasing after she worked just under a mile with Colin Keane on Epsom’s annual pre-Derby Festival gallops morning.

“We thought when she ran well in the Fillies’ Mile last year at Newmarket and she ran on in the last part. We thought if we’ve got an Oaks filly, it’s her. So hopefully we’ll be there on the day,” said Gosden, who will be looking to win the race alongside son Thady for a second time and fifth overall.

“That was good today, perfect and she had a nice look at the place. She went up to the top of the old mile, 110 yards start. She went a half-speed down the hill, got on the correct lead into the straight and picked up well.

“I always pull up a little early at the half-furlong marker because the ground tends to run away from you on the pull-up here. But no, I was very happy with it.

“She’s a Musidora winner and she won that well at York. She showed a good attitude and the extra distance seemed to suit her there.

“They started the race a little early that day, Colin was saying that. It started three or four (furlongs) down and at York, that’s a long way to start the race. She finished well and we’ve been pleased with her since.”

This particular morning in the calendar has proved vital for the Clarehaven team in preparing their Epsom contenders down the years, with Gosden reflecting on his early experiences of the famous undulations during his time with the great Vincent O’Brien.

Gosden added: “The key thing of coming here is sorting their feet out. I learned that a long time ago. I came with three horses in 1977 from Ballydoyle and I was told to go out the day before the race and canter them down the hill.

“It was The Minstrel, Valinsky and Be My Guest. All running in the Derby. So I thought if Vincent O’Brien believes it, it’s a good thing.

“It’s a hard thing to rehearse, Tattenham Corner, unless you have some specially built gallop. But left-handed downhill is not the normal way you work horses.”

Legacy Link’s partner at Epsom, the six-time Irish champion jockey Keane, was equally impressed with his York winner and has no doubts about her stamina for a mile and a half.

Keane said: “She seems to have come out of York really well and she seems to have handled the track really well there this morning.

“It was nothing too strenuous, she came down the hill nicely, got herself organised and levelled up to the line well without doing anything crazy.

“There’s no doubts she will stay and the distance won’t be an issue. I think this trip is where you are going to see the best of her, whether she handles the track at race pace on the day is another thing, but she seemed to cope with it well this morning.”