AIDEN O'BRIEN'S domination of European Classic scene appears all set to continue this afternoon at Epsom where Imagine (3.55) has outstanding claims in the £325,000 Vodafone Oaks.

Imagine's victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday May 27 completed a fantastic fortnight for the Master of Ballydoyle, who had earlier on in the month plundered the French equivalent with Rose Gypsy, prior to an amazing 1-2-3 in the Irish 2,000 with Black Minnaloushe, Mozart, and Minardi.

Generally available at the relatively short odds of 3-1, Imagine (3.55) could scarcely be described as a daring selection for the Group 1 showpiece.

Nevertheless it's simply impossible to ignore the credentials of the star filly, a daughter of Sadler's Wells boasting the sort of pedigree with sufficient speed to score over a mile, and enough stamina to stay every inch of Epsom's testing mile-and-a-half.

Not too far behind in terms of prize money, the preceding £250,000 Coronation Cup has attracted a field of six high-class individuals.

To my way of thinking it's a contest to sit back and savour rather than become financially involved in. Irish Oaks heroine Petruska is likely to start favourite, although I marginally prefer John Dunlop's Millenary (3.10).

Pat Eddery's mount, successful in last year's extended mile-and-six-furlong St Leger, found little difficulty in reverting to 12 furlongs when obliging on his seasonal comeback at Newmarket in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes.

Northern stables rarely get a sniff in Group One races, but the big handicaps are a different kettle of fish and Karl Burke's Its Ecco Boy (4.35) must be in with some sort of shout for the £30,000 Multimedia Handicap.

He's a speedily-bred son of Clantime, capable according to Karl of "winning races this season." And Its Ecco Boy warmed up nicely with a staying fourth at Thirsk when palpably in need of the outing.

Front-running Slaneyside might be a hard horse to pass in the 4.10 at Beverley.

He defied his 25-1 starting price by running a promising comeback at Musselburgh when third to the rejuvenated Give Me A Ring. Sure to be fitter after that pipe-opener, he can make every post a winning post.

A monster 22 participants face the starter for the opening Amateur Riders' Handicap at Goodwood.

However there's an old saying in racing, the bigger the field the bigger the certainty, and I am very sweet on the prospects of Hormuz (6.30), a whopping 26lbs below the mark he won off at Beverley two seasons ago.

* 11-2 winning nap, Takamaka Bay, made it a happy Haydock for followers of Janus (Colin Woods) yesterday