Rhapsody sets out on Classic trail at Kempton

All roads could lead to the Oaks for Rhapsody as she looks to build on her impressive debut in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places/British EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Kempton.

Trained by William Haggas, the daughter of Ghaiyyath won her only start as a two-year-old and holds an entry for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks in July.

However, Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, believes she could also end up challenging for the Epsom equivalent on June 6 ahead of her reappearance over a mile on Saturday.

“She’s very well. William is very pleased with and I saw her earlier this week and she looks fantastic,” Herbert said.

“She’s very much a middle-distance filly in the making so this is kind of tight for her trip-wise, but I hope she’s a very important filly.

“She was impressive when she won at Yarmouth, she’s training really well at the moment and she worked the other morning with Tom Marquand on board and he was very pleased with her.

“This is not her trip – one mile – and she’s got some really good opposition, so she could run a hell of a race and be placed and not win.

“She could then go on, potentially, to an Oaks trial and hold our breath, see what happens thereafter. The Epsom Oaks would be first I’d imagine and see how it goes – she’s done everything right and I think she’s a very nice filly.”

He went on: “She could have gone to Yarmouth next week but that means running in a novice and giving away 7lb to very good horses, the trip would have been better, but William thought start her off at Kempton and go from there.

“We are hopeful she will run a big race and give us cause for optimism.”

In a deep field of seven, Rhapsody’s opponents include Ollie Sangster’s reappearing Radley Stakes scorer Ellaria Sand who is sporting the Sangster family’s famous silks this season, with Ed Walker’s unbeaten American Gal another formidable-looking rival.

Charlie Appleby’s Cavallo Bay is back from a spell in America and lines up in the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily/British EBF Conditions Stakes, attempting to repeat last year’s win of subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech in this contest.

Elsewhere on the card, Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Andaleep will attempt to add to his useful course record in the valuable Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap.

Co-trainer Daniel Kubler said: “Even though he has been off for three months, he is pretty ready. He was going to run at Kempton at the end of January but had a little setback, so we have freshened him up with this race in mind.

“Initially, I did not have (All-Weather) Finals Day in mind but I had a look at the list of qualified horses for the Easter Classic and he should get a run, so I think there is a good chance he will go there if he comes out of this weekend OK.

“He is nine years old now and has seen it all – he is just a pretty cool horse.”