Estrange heading to Haydock, with exciting options on the horizon

Estrange will return to the happy hunting ground of Haydock for the bet365 Lancashire Oaks after connections decided to swerve the Pretty Polly Stakes.

The four-year-old ran out a most impressive winner of the Group Three Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes on her last outing in Merseyside at the end of May and will take her chance at Group Two level for the first time.

Trainer David O’Meara felt staying at a mile and a half on a course she knows will better suit the Cheveley Park Stud-owned grey, who is a best-priced 16-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, such was the manner of her latest victory.

O’Meara said: “We did consider the Pretty Polly in Ireland for Estrange, but they missed a lot of the rain and I didn’t think there was a need to come back to 10 furlongs on quick ground.

“She won her last race quite easily at Haydock Park and it didn’t look like she had a hard race when she came in afterwards. She came home and ate up and was back into exercise two days later.

“It makes a lot of sense to go to Haydock Park as we have already been there and there are not the huge logistical arrangements that we would have faced to get over to Ireland.

“This looks a better fit for her and there appears to be the potential for a bit of rain as well which would help.

“There has been a lot of talk about her, but she doesn’t know that. When she gets out there hopefully it will be more of the same from her.

“Plenty of fillies have taken this race en route to Group One success so hopefully she turns up at Haydock Park at the weekend in the same form she has up to now.”

As well as the Arc, Estrange is among the leading contenders for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, and O’Meara added: “As a yard, and a team, we are very excited, but we have to take every day as it comes as with racehorses 24 hours is a long time.

“We are very excited by her and hopefully she has got a few more good days in her yet.”