Ante-Post Betting 
/ Graham Cunningham / 27 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Wonder of Wonders, ridden by Ryan Moore, left a strong impression at Chester
"Her physique is impressive and, as a daughter of the Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful from the family of the mighty Galileo and Sea The Starsher pedigree is outstanding."
It may not attract the same publicity as the Derby, but this year's Investec Oaks forms an absorbing puzzle with three of the biggest stables in Europe at its heart. Godolphin, Coolmore and Sir Michael Stoute dominate the market and Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham is wondering whether he has missed the boat with his main fancy.
The problem of what to do when you fancy a horse but miss the best of the value is familiar to punters the world over.
It's raising its head for yours truly in the case of Wonder Of Wonders in next Friday's Investec Oaks at Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien's filly was available at [11.0] for a while after bolting up in the Cheshire Oaks but is now only a shade over [5.00] on Betfair having been the subject of sustained support in recent weeks.
I did take a small piece of [9.00] but the simple question now relates to whether to step in again given what we know about the rest of the main contenders.
We know that Godolphin won the 1000 Guineas and Oaks with Kazzia and we know that Blue Bunting is bred to stay a mile and a half after completing the first half of the Classic double in willing fashion at Newmarket.
But we also know that Blue Bunting is currently rading at just [3.35] on Betfair. And that looks a little tight for comfort.
We know that Havant finished almost six lengths behind Blue Bunting on fast ground at HQ. But we also know that Havant looked a fine Oaks prospect under softer conditions last autumn and that she's bred to come into her own a mile and a half.
We know that Misty For Me's revival in last week's Irish Guineas means she boasts as many Group 1 wins as the rest of this field put together. But we also know that she isn't so stoutly bred on the female side of her pedigree as some in this field.
We know that Zain Al Boldan routed her rivals in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. But we also know that looked a very soft Classic trial and that Timeform ratings suggest she has the best part of a stone to find if Blue Bunting reproduces her Newmarket form at Epsom.
We know that Khawlah looks likely to be saved for Royal Ascot unless Blue Bunting suffers a reverse.
And we also know that Beatrice Aurore and Izzi Top are on the up but need to take another marked step forward in order to succeed at G1 level.
All in all, then, this looks a case of wait a little longer to learn about the ground and riding plans before deciding whether to climb aboard the Wonder Of Wonders bus.
Her physique is impressive and, as a daughter of the Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful from the family of the mighty Galileo and Sea The Stars, her pedigree is outstanding.
Whether she has the ability to go with those two credentials remains to be seen, but she left a strong impression at Chester and adds yet another powerful string to the impressive O'Brien Epsom bow this year.
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