Minnie Hauk enhanced her Classic credentials by providing trainer Aidan O'Brien with a ninth victory in the Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks.
Although none of Ballydoyle’s eight previous winners of the Chester trial have gone on to claim the Betfred Oaks the following month, his 2018 runner-up Forever Together did go one better at Epsom, while the brilliant Enable completed the double for John Gosden in 2017.
Frankel filly Minnie Hauk, who finished second on her Cork debut before scoring at Leopardstown in October, was a 13-8 favourite to add her name to the roll of honour on the Roodee.
And after racing on the tail of the pacesetting Queen Of Thieves for much of the way, she finished off strongly from the home turn under Ryan Moore to score by a length from the staying-on Secret Of Love.
O'Brien said from his Ballydoyle base: "I was very happy with the filly as she’d been a little bit behind the others and she needed the experience.
"We sent her over, though, because we think she’s got that little bit of quality, so we were very happy to see her do that.
"We’ll have to see what happens in the other trials now, but we ran her today thinking that she would then go on to Epsom.
"I think Ryan was happy, he has the knack of having them in the right place at Chester and she saw the trip out well."
Moore had to get serious with Lambourn as he put himself in the Betfred Derby picture when providing O'Brien with a record-extending 11th Boodles Chester Vase Stakes victory.
Sent off the 11-8 favourite, the son of Australia was tracking the early pace set by the eventual second and third – Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff and Karl Burke’s Convergent – but came off the bridle as the race started to develop, with the Ballydoyle number one made to earn every penny of his riding fee.
Moore angled his mount out rounding the turn for home and his willing partner responded to every urging from the saddle as he galloped on for what was eventually an easy length and a half success.
"He looked a thorough stayer and while he was a little on and off the bridle, once the penny dropped, he came home really strongly," said O'Brien.
"He got the trip really well and he’s gone through the line nicely.
"At this stage, you’d have to say he’s on the Epsom team but this is a busy week for the trials. We’ve got Lingfield, there’s Leopardstown and then there’s York too.
"We’ll just have to see how they all get on but we were thinking of sending him to Epsom, as they learn so much when they go to Chester."
