Aidan O’Brien’s Cameo announced herself as a live Betfred Oaks contender on Saturday, May 9th with a decisive victory in the William Hill Oaks Trial at Lingfield, drawing clear under Ryan Moore and giving Ballydoyle another significant Classic-trial result.
Cameo Dominates Lingfield Oaks Trial And Cut In The Betting For Epsom Oaks
Aidan O’Brien’s Classic-trial run continued at Lingfield on Saturday, May 9th, as Cameo powered to victory in the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes and moved herself firmly into the Epsom Oaks conversation.
Cameo, who was ridden by Ryan Moore, tracked her stablemate Bloom before going on two furlongs from home and stretching right away in the closing stages.
The daughter of Wootton Bassett beat Andrew Balding’s Prizeland by four and three-quarter lengths.
With the Sporting Life Lingfield results page confirming Cameo as the 10/3 winner of a five-runner Listed contest and noting that 11/8 favourite Romantic Symphony finished unplaced.
Cameo’s win gave Aidan O’Brien a fourth Lingfield Oaks Trial win, with his first Baraka in 2004. And has now won the race for the last two seasons.
She’ll be looking to be the first horse to follow-up at Epsom since Anapurna in 2019. With bookies cutting her from 33/1 to 16/1.
With Ramruma (1999) and Lady Carla (1996) other Lingfield trial winners to land the Epsom Oaks.
Lingfield Oaks Trial Result
🥇CAMEO 100/30
🥈Prizeland 17/2
🥉Bloom 100/30
Winning Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Winning Jockey: Ryan Moore
Very impressive! 👏
Cameo breezes away in the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/hWA5gEs1LD
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 9, 2026
Race Developed Into a Clear Epsom Oaks Trial Statement
Once the field turned for home, Cameo separated herself from the contest quickly.
She travelled behind Bloom, took over two furlongs out and kept extending through the final furlong.
While the Andrew Balding-trained Prizeland emerged as the only filly to offer any late resistance and could be one to note at Royal Ascot and the season ahead.
But was eventually seen off by 4 3/4 lengths at the line.
Godolphin’s Romantic Symphony, who had been prominent in the market beforehand, never landed a serious blow.
Ryan Moore told ITV Racing, via Sporting Life, that Cameo was a tall, scopey filly who handled the track well and would keep improving as the season moved on.
“She picked up well, I was in front a long way out, and she kept going. She’s a filly who will get better as the season progresses.
“She will keep improving and you never know where a filly like that will end up. I loved everything she’s done today and she will get better. Ryan Moore“
Paul Smith, speaking for the ownership group, said Epsom was in the thinking and that the step up in trip had helped her.
“It’s in the thinking. I was very happy with her there and I think the step up in trip really helped.
“She showed a bit of class and hit the line well. She would have to be a contender for the Oaks now.”
As a result Cameo was cut into 16/1 for the Epsom Oaks, on Friday 5th June – a race trainer Aidan O’Brien has won 11 times.
When Is The Epsom Oaks 2026? 🗓️
📅 Date: Friday, 5th June 2026
⌚ Time: 4:00pm
🏇 Racecourse: Epsom
🔄 Trip: 1m4f
💷 Winner: £354,438
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
Epsom Oaks Betting Odds 2026: O’Brien Filly Heads Market
- Amelia Earhart 7/2 (Aidan O’Brien)
- I’m The One 6/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Diamond Necklace 8/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Abashiri 10/1 (Charlie Appleby)
- Behrayana 16/1 (Francis-Henri Graffard)
- My Ophelia 16/1 (William Haggas)
- Precise 16/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Cameo 16/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Venetian Lace 16/1 (Charlie Johnston)
- Felicitas 20/1 (Ed Walker)
- Thundering On 20/1 (Joseph O’Brien)
- Drop Dead Gorgeous 25/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Earth Shot 25/1 (William Haggas)
- Cameo 25/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Legacy Link 25/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Sugar Island 33/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Eretria 40/1 (Donnacha O’Brien)
- Evolutionist 40/1 (Karl Burke)
- Forever True 40/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Gilded Prize 40/1 (Fancis-Henri Graffard)
- Golden Orbit 40/1 (Ralph Beckett)
- A La Prochaine 50/1 (Ralph Beckett)
- Aylin 50/1 (Karl Burke)
- Emmeleia 50/1 (Donnacha O’Brien)
- Moments Of Joy 50/1 (Aidan O’Brien
- 50/1 BAR
Note: Epsom Oaks Betting Odds are subject to change and others on request. Also see Epsom Derby betting odds.
