bet365 Lancashire Oaks preview: Mimikyu bids to give Robert Havlin fourth win
Since winning the mile-and-a-half contest, which was then a Group Three, back in 2003 aboard Place Rouge the 49-year-old has added two further victories in the race, which is now a Group Two, aboard Great Heavens in 2012 and 12 months ago on Free Wind.
And while Mimikyu will have to defy a five-pound penalty incurred for scoring at the same level in the Coral Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster last year, Havlin feels the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly has the class to overcome it in the £125,000 contest. She is currently the 7-4 favourite with race sponsor bet365.
Havlin said: “My stepdad Sam has been looking at the statistics for the last 20 years of the race and he said I have the best history in the race over that period having won and been placed in it the most times. When I won the race in 2003 it was my first Group winner. I remember the day like yesterday as I gave a young Ryan Moore, who was an apprentice at the time, a lift back.
“As for the race I remember having to hang on to Place Rouge for as long as possible as that is the way she had to be ridden. She travelled through the race like a knife going through butter and she won pretty easy in the end. I also remember picking the wrong one when Pomology won the race in 2014 as I went for Sultanina and we finished second. Pomology’s work was a bit flat going into it that’s why I went for the other one.
“Mimikyu does have a five-pound penalty to carry for winning the Park Hill at Doncaster last year but hopefully she has got the class to overcome it. She is going there with a live chance.”
Mimikyu continued her preparations for her next assignment with a racecourse gallop alongside leading Coral-Eclipse contender Emily Upjohn and this year’s Betfred Oaks winner Soul Sister ahead of racing at Newmarket’s July Course on Saturday 1st July.
Working over a mile, without her customary hood, the daughter of Dubawi, who filled second spot in the Group Three William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes at York on her comeback, finished at the head of trio much to the delight of Havlin.
He added: “She worked really well at the weekend at the July Course with the hood off. She has been racing with the hood on recently, including in the Bronte Cup but she will race with the hood off here. I really felt an improvement with the hood off. It was a pleasing bit of work for me and I was really happy with her. She only just got beat on the nod at York which was a nice prep run.
“She is quite a lively character, as you could see after the work, when she was pulling my arms out walking her around. She is from the same family as Journey, who also wore a hood in a lot of her races, but she settled really well with the hood off the other day. I think it is the right time to take the hood back off again.”
The last time Havlin sat on board Mimikyu in a race was on her Group One debut in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October.
Although the George Strawbridge-owned filly only beat two horses’ home that day Havlin expects her to be campaigned at the highest level again later on this season.
He added: “Most of the fillies that have won this for us have been on their way up onto better things. She ran a bit flat at the back of last year when I last rode her at Ascot on Champions Day but she seems fresh and well now. Hopefully this can be another stepping-stone. I imagine she will have another tilt at Group One level at some point during this season, especially if she wins this.”
Although Mimikyu’s best form has been seen over further Havlin feels the removal of the hood she has worn for the past three races will be a big benefit on her drop back down to a mile-and-a-half.
He added: “She was impressive in the Park Hill over that extended mile six last year at Doncaster but I think a mile and a half, without the hood on, will be perfect for her. She is not slow by any means. Kieran (O’Neill) rode her the last day and she was a little bit too asleep if anything with the hood on as she was on and off the bridle the whole way. She has started to relax in her races and that last run will have got the freshness out of her.”
Not only does Havlin hope he can take centre stage at Haydock Park, but he will be keeping his fingers crossed stablemate Emily Upjohn can read the script in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on the same day.
Should both horses win it would see Gosden secure the big race across the card double for the third time, and first in partnership with Thady, having completed it in 2012 with Nathaniel (Eclipse) and Great Heavens and in 2019 with Enable (Eclipse) and Enbihaar.
Havlin added: “The Lancashire Oaks always falls on the same weekend as the Eclipse. It was great when I won the race on Great Heavens as John also won the Eclipse that year with Nathaniel. Hopefully we can have another double this weekend with Mimikyu and Emily Upjohn. On these big Saturday’s being involved with this yard you can always pick up a decent ride. I’ve been doing that for years and years and I’ll keep batting away at it. Hopefully Mimikyu can find that improvement with the hood coming off and we will see a different filly.”
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