English/Ire
Desert Flower heads nine Oaks confirmations
Desert Flower will face a maximum of eight rivals as she attempts to remain unbeaten in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom on Friday.
A winner of the Fillies' Mile on her final outing as a juvenile, Charlie Appleby's filly made it a perfect five from five when staying on strongly to land the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her seasonal reappearance.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder will now step up half a mile in trip as she bids to complete a memorable Classic double for the Godolphin team.
Desert Flower will take on the reopposing Elwateen, who emerged with plenty of credit back in fourth on just her second outing, with connections Shadwell opting to supplement their filly at the cost of £30,000.
Aidan O'Brien could saddle a trio of his trial winners, with Chester scorer Minnie Hauk remaining in the mix alongside Lingfield and York winners Giselle and Whirl.
On the same card, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan looks sure to be odds-on for the Coronation Cup, as he bids to get back to winning ways following second place finishes in the Juddmonte International, Champion Stakes and Dubai Sheema Classic.
Aidan O'Brien has confirmed Jan Brueghel, who won last year's St Leger Stakes, alongside Continuous.
The Marco Botti-trained Longines Hong Kong Vase winner Giavellotto also remains in contention, as does Ralph Beckett's Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me.
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