The Improver

Frankly Darling (125p)

The Oaks trials staged in Britain this year were dominated by fillies from the John Gosden yard, with none of them making a better impression than Frankly Darling. She was an emphatic five-length winner of a maiden at Newcastle on the day racing resumed and then followed up in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she put some useful sorts to the sword in ready fashion. Still far from the finished article (raced freely off a steady early gallop), she was ultimately value for several more lengths than she won by in the end, being looked after by Frankie Dettori in the final furlong after she had gained a decisive advantage at the top of the straight. By Frankel – sire of last year’s winner for Gosden, Anapurna – Frankly Darling has proved herself at the Oaks trip and is very much the type to improve further.