Precise Ruled Out of the Oaks, Leaving Amelia Earhart as Aidan O'Brien's Main Hope

Heavy rain at Epsom has forced Ballydoyle to alter its plans and sidelined recent Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Precise, leaving Amelia Earhart as Aidan O'Brien's leading hope for Friday's Betfred Oaks (G1)

EPSOM DOWNS, England (Special to Turf Diario).- Sometimes, in racing's biggest events, the toughest opponent isn't another horse. For Precise, one of Europe's hottest fillies following her brilliant victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1), that rival turned out to be the weather.

Heavy rainfall over Epsom in recent days has forced Aidan O'Brien to revise his plans for Friday's Betfred Oaks (G1), ruling out the daughter of Starspangledbanner, who until recently had been regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Classic.

The news represents a significant blow both to the race and to racing fans, as Precise had delivered one of the season's most eye-catching performances when decisively reversing form on stablemate True Love (No Nay Never) after their clash in the 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket.

Following that victory at The Curragh, O'Brien himself had left the door open for a step up to the Oaks distance, convinced that the filly's pedigree and running style suggested she could thrive over a mile and a half. Ultimately, however, the ground conditions changed everything.

No fewer than 33 millimeters of rain fell at Epsom on Tuesday, leaving the official going described as good to soft, with additional showers still forecast in the days leading up to the race.

Concerns regarding Precise's ability to cope with such testing conditions were quickly reflected in the betting markets, and Ballydoyle eventually confirmed that she would not take her chance.

As a result, the powerful Coolmore operation will attempt to extend its remarkable domination of the race—O'Brien has already won the Oaks 11 times, including four of the last six editions—with a team consisting of Amelia Earhart (Camelot), Cameo (Wootton Bassett), and Sugar Island (Dubawi).

The stable's principal hope is now Amelia Earhart, whose credentials were significantly enhanced when she scored impressively in the Cheshire Oaks (L) in May. The daughter of Camelot now stands as one of the strongest contenders in what remains a high-quality renewal.

Among her chief rivals are Legacy Link (Dubawi), winner of the Musidora Stakes (G3) for trainers John and Thady Gosden; Thundering On (Frankel), trained by Joseph O'Brien; and Venetian Lace (Masar) from the yard of Charlie Johnston.

The absence of Precise removes one of the race's major storylines, but it also raises questions about her next target.

What is certain is that Ballydoyle still possesses ample firepower as it seeks to add yet another golden chapter to its extraordinary history in the Epsom Oaks.