Lingfield: Secret Gesture sharp in seasonal debut

Secret Gesture won her first start of the year in Saturday’s Betfred Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield Racecourse in England to join the list of leading contenders for the English Oaks at Epsom Racecourse on May 31.

Ridden by Jim Crowley, Secret Gesture, the even-money favorite, overwhelmed six rivals to win the race over 1 7/16 miles by 10 lengths. Secret Gesture stalked the pace before taking the lead a quarter-mile from the finish.

Miss You Too (9-2) was second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 10-1 Whippy Cream.

Owned by breeder Newsells Park Stud and trained by Ralph Beckett, Secret Gesture started twice last year, winning a maiden race in her final start in late October.

By Galileo, Secret Gesture is a 4-1 co-favorite with some English bookmakers to win the English Oaks, along with Moth, a troubled third in the English 1000 Guineas on May 5.

In Saturday’s Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield, Nevis, the 4-9 favorite, led throughout, winning by nine lengths over 8-1 Elidor. The race drew only four runners after morning-line favorite Greatwood was a late scratch because of wet conditions.

Greatwood could run as quickly as Thursday’s Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, a key prep for the English Derby on June 1.

Australia: Platelet wins Goodwood Stakes

Platelet, a mare facing males, won her second consecutive Group 1 race in Saturday’s $510,000 Goodwood Stakes at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia.

A 4-year-old mare in the Southern Hemisphere, Platelet (8-1) closed from eighth in a field of 16 in the final quarter-mile to win by a half-length over 70-1 Conservatorium. Altar, a 12-1 chance, was a head behind Conservatorium in third. The first six finishers were separated by a length. Moment of Change, the 6-5 favorite, finished fifth.

Platelet, by Strategic, was ridden by Ben Melham for a partnership and trainer Darren Weir. Platelet won the Group 1 Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares at Morphettville on April 27 in her preceding start.

Your Song, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old facing older horses for the first time, won his first start since October in an 11-1 upset in Saturday’s $408,000 BTC Cup at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Australia.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the son of famous Australian trainer Bart Cummings, Your Song won the Group 1 BTC Cup by five lengths over 3-1 Rain Affair under jockey Peter Robl. Rain Affair led into the stretch of the race over about six furlongs, but was passed by Your Song with a furlong to go.

Buffering, the 3-2 favorite, could only finish fourth in the field of 11.

Your Song, by Fastnet Rock, has won 3 of 7 starts.