A filly who was bred by The late Queen Elizabeth II and is owned by His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen is among 12 horses declared for Friday’s (May 31st) Betfred Oaks.
The race was the most successful of the five Classics for Queen Elizabeth II, having owned two winners of the Epsom Downs contest in Carrozza (1957) and Dunfermline (1977).
This year Her Majesty’s legacy lives on with the filly Treasure set to line up in the 2024 renewal of the Betfred Oaks.
Treasure is a daughter of leading stallion Masterscraftsman and out of Shimmering Light, who was placed twice for Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.
An impressive winner on her only start last season on heavy ground at Nottingham in October, Treasure shaped with considerable promise on her first start of 2024 when fourth to her stable companion and fellow Betfred Oaks contender You Got To Me in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield Park on May 11th.
Treasure’s trainer Ralph Beckett, who is based near Andover in Hampshire, said today: “We had been thinking Treasure was more a filly for Royal Ascot this time last week but with the way the ground is now at Epsom (Soft, Good to Soft in places), we decided to have a go at the Oaks as the ground should be in her favour.
“I have been very pleased with her progress since her reappearance at Lingfield Park. The King and Queen are such enthusiastic owners and it is great to be training such a nice filly for them who is running in a Classic.”
Race sponsor Betfred make Treasure a 14-1 chance to claim the £550,000 contest on Friday. She will be ridden for the first time by James Doyle.
