Disability Charm for Oaks

DISABILITY CHARM appears to have Saturday's Jamaica Oaks at their mercy after her vastly improved performance in the 1000 Guineas three weeks ago.

Though Guineas runner-up LICI'S PEPSI has come on a ton since trainer Patrick Fong ditched her cheekpieces and fitted the tongue tie, beating the colt REGGAE ROAD into third place, followed by a strong second-place finish in the Guineas, turning the tables on DISABILITY CHARM will be a tough task.

A deceptively dangerous filly due to a dodgy right knee, which prevents Patrick Lynch from training her in the conventional manner, DISABILITY CHARM makes up for her innocuous-looking exercise reports with a stealth-like pace and great determination in the stretch run.

After winning the 1400-metre Thornbird Stakes in a driving finish, amid questions of her ability to stay the Guineas distance, DISABILITY CHARM silenced the doubting Thomases with a command performance at a mile, pulling away at the top of the lane, only losing ground when swerving close home due to jockey Robert Halledeen needlessly switching to a left-hand whip.

Stacked with class on both sides, DISABILITY CHARM is sired by Soul Warrior, winner of the West Virginia and Iowa derbies.

Her dam line is impeccable, foaled by Runnin on Empty, who got her class from Caymanas Park's first Triple Crown-winning filly, Simply Magic, a daughter of multiple grade one winner, United States-bred Fontainbleu

Runnin on Empty was sired by Go Rockin Robin, who also threw the 2010 Governor's Cup winner, Go My Robin, making DISABILITY CHARM undoubtedly the best-bred horse in the Oaks.

Dick Cardenas is aboard DISABILITY CHARM, due to Halledeen's commitment to Saturday's city-block winner, 2000 Guineas runner-up, WESTERN LEGEND, for next month's Derby. The change of rider, however, counts for little as DISABILITY CHARM is a fluent galloper, an on-the-pace runner, who also rates easily.

Richard Azan's HONEY RYDA started as favourite in the 1000 Guineas after a battling win at a mile in her previous race. However, she was left standing at the top of the lane when she tried matching strides with DISABILITY CHARM coming off the turn, eventually losing second to late-closing LICI'S PEPSI.

None of the top three out of the Guineas has ever run a two-turn race. However, if DISABILITY CHARM's pace work in the mornings, beating open allowance stablemate, ANOTHER BULLET, is to be counted, she should definitely get 10 furlongs, which is already suggested by her bloodline.