3.25 York
Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £175,987
Pick: Sariska (win)
Barshiba: Consistent mare who’s run series of cracking races and last season no exception, especially when upped back to 1m4f for her last 2 starts, which include a Yorkshire Oaks among an impressive rout of the Plantation Stud Stakes field under a hefty penalty; Same story with 2 wins this season in listed race and Lancashire Oaks and will give it her all even though she could be left flat footed (behind Midday last time).
Flying Cloud: Has actually improved since joining Godolphin form last season, running away with Ribblesdale Stakes (did not like soft ground when unplaced in Italian Group 1); Would be the pick of this field on her 2 efforts this season, a good third behind Midday and Sariska and a close second to Chinese White in Group 1 Pretty Polly; Didn’t’ t stay 1mf at Goodwood last time but held by Midday and Sariska on earlier form here.
Midday: Improved no end last season, coming second and fourth in the Epsom and Irish Oaks before bolting up in last year’s Nassau, third in the L’Opera and then topping that with an impressive Breeder’s Cup filly and Mare Turf win; Great comeback run when fast closing in on Sariska (giving 5lbs) and bolted up in Nassau last time despite wandering; Major chance here and weighted to trun form around with Sariska.
Sariska: Was the stand out filly of last year with impressive Musidora /Oaks double before completing an Oaks double with consummate ease when landing the Irish Oaks; Beaten in this last year by top class Dar Re Mi before staying on third in Champion Stakes; Reappeared with great win in Middleton Stakes (getting 5lbs from Midday) before a top class second in Coronation Cup; That effort probably sets the standard here and major chance.
Elanora Duse: Showed much promise for better things in 3-y-o career when landing 1m Kempton maiden and duly built on that when strong-finishing second in handicap on seasonal debut; Has since finished close third in Musidora and won listed race easily, so not done improving although this is a very hard race.
Hibaayeb: Improved all the time and is Group 1 class on the basis of her 4 runs as a 2 year old, which included a Fillies’ Mile win on her last start as a 2 year old; Run in 1,000 Guineas can be forgiven and efforts in Prix Saint Alary and Ribblesdale are up to this grade but big blowout in Irish Oaks last time and needs a lot more to make mark here.
Meezenah: Behind 2 pattern winners on her two juvenile starts and improved no end for step up to 12 furlongs when trashing maiden field by 9 lengths; Stepped up hugely on that when an unlucky second in the Epsom Oaks, having been all at sea on track and meeting trouble in running; Should have been closely matched in Irish Oaks with Snow Fairy but hated ground, coming lacklustre fourth; Could come back to form but this is altogether tougher race.
Snow Fairy: Has improved out of all recognition this season for step up to middle distances, showing impressive turn of foot to land the Height Of Fashion Stakes before making mockery of her price when coming with powerful burst under brilliant ride form Ryan Moore to land Oaks, even with troubled passage; No such trouble in Irish Oaks next time, completing Oaks double in emphatic style on soft ground; Comes here on a roll and major chance.
VERDICT: As Michael Bell described it, “a race for the purists”. Snow Fairy comes here after an absolute demolition job I the Irish Oaks, and Midday had a lot in hand despite wandering when bolting up in the Nassau, but SARISKA may have just achieved more when a good second to Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup last time and is picked on that basis, despite being on negative weight terms with Midday from their meeting at York earlier in the season.
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