Shamkala is more likely to remain on home soil than travel from France to contest the Investec Oaks at Epsom a week today.
The Sea The Stars filly, trained in Chantilly by Alain de Royer-Dupre, has been prominent in the betting for the Classic since winning the group three Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud on May 17.
Shamkala still holds an entry in the Oaks but connections of the Aga Khan-owned three-year-old are keen to run her in the French equivalent at Chantilly a fortnight later.
Georges Rimaud, French racing manager for the Aga Khan, said: "Things are evolving on many things, and Epsom is still in our thoughts. But the principal goal for the filly is the Prix de Diane [French Oaks]."
Aidan O'Brien could have up to five runners at Epsom - staged this year in memory of Sir Henry Cecil - spearheaded by Marvellous, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh last Sunday.
O'Brien said: "Bracelet [well beaten in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month] is a possible. There's also Tapestry, Marvellous and I suppose the filly [Dazzling] that ran in the trial in Navan. We'd be looking at four or five possibles."
Dermot Weld - trainer of Tarfasha, accomplished winner of the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas - will consider alternatives if the ground deteriorates.
He said: "I'm very happy, but she's a fluid-moving filly and likes top of the ground. If it turned up soft I don't think we'd run. She'd then go to Royal Ascot or the Irish Oaks."
Frankie Dettori was encouraged by Amazing Maria when the horse cantered at Epsom yesterday.
Ed Dunlop's filly looked impressive in the group three Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last season but faces the Oaks without a preparatory run.
Dettori said: "When you miss a trial it's important to get her here [to Epsom] and stretch her legs. The rain's quite good, she raced on it before and she likes it."
Stablemate Island Remede also worked at Epsom to confirm her place in the line-up, while Oaks ante-post favourite Taghrooda engaged in a solid piece of work.
John Gosden's filly - like Tarfasha, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum - is thought likely to appreciate the mile-and-a-half trip.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article