Stellar Yorkshire Oaks in Store on the Knavesmire

Day 2 of York's Ebor Festival plays host to a stellar edition of the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks and features a mouthwatering rematch between the G1 Irish Oaks first and second Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). The former's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has annexed six editions since the turn of the century, but is still three shy of the record nine held jointly by Mathew Dawson and Sir Michael Stoute. Savethelastdance's three career wins, which include a 22-length romp in May's Listed Cheshire Oaks, have all played out with ease underfoot and drying conditions on the Knavesmire replicate the good-to-firm going she encountered when second in Epsom's G1 Oaks.

O'Brien, who is also represented by G2 Ribblesdale S. victrix and Irish Oaks fifth Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), considers pace, rather than going, key to a bold showing from the stable's star distaffer and commented, “I think York will suit her as it's a big, galloping track, and that's why York suits a very good horse. There's no messing there and the rhythm usually gets going early. She's a big, genuine filly who gets a mile-and-a-half very well. Ideally, she might have preferred a stronger pace at the Curragh as she gets into a big, rolling gallop. Ryan [Moore] didn't panic when the pace started to quicken and she started to get a little bit flat with him, so he gave her time to get into gear. He felt he won very well on her and it's a difficult thing for a jockey when everyone is going away from you. He gave her chance to go through the gears and he felt when she hit top gear that she would mow them down.”

Bluestocking, who was set fair for victory in Ireland only to be collared in the dying strides is displaying positive signs at home, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. “Bluestocking worked well on Friday and we are happy,” he said. “It's the right spot for her and, at her level, there aren't many alternatives. She's Group 1-placed and not eligible for [Thursday's Listed] Galtres.”

The Classic generation's contenders face an ominous threat from their elders, which includes George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has finished off the board in both starts since registering a fourth pattern-race victory in May's G2 Middleton S. over an extended 10 furlongs at this venue, and Shadwell's G1 Nassau S. heroine Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has twice downed Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) this term for Roger Varian. The former seeks a fifth win in the contest for the Gosden stable, two of which were provided by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Al Husn stretches out to 12 furlongs for the first time and it is very much a venture into the unknown according to racing manager Angus Gold. “She hasn't run over this trip before and nobody has ever said to me that they think she wants further,” he revealed. “She's so tough and it's obviously a lovely race. We wanted everything to be right and the question was always whether this would come too soon after the Nassau, but she did a bit of work last Thursday and everyone is happy with her. We are very lucky that she's got a Group 1 on the board already, so we don't have to chase one, and running here instead of in last Sunday's Prix Jean Romanet gives her an extra four days.”

 

Relief Rally Up In Trip For Lowther Test

An enticing undercard includes the G2 Sky Bet Lowther S., in which G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up and impressive Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) tackles six furlongs for the first time and encounters eight rivals. Denied by a nose at Royal Ascot in her penultimate start, she renews rivalry with Queen Mary third Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) and Queen Mary sixth Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She's a lovely filly and she'll run a good race,” insisted Relief Rally's trainer William Haggas. “She's very fast, she's very able and goes on any ground. She should get the trip and I think she'll enjoy the trip.” Opposition is deep and also includes Ballydoyle's impressive Curragh maiden winner Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who comes back off a runner-up finish in last month's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket.

 

Super Friday In Store

Friday's card includes a trio of stakes races with G3 Molecomb S. and Listed Windsor Castle S. victor Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in receipt of 19 pounds and more from his elders in the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. over five furlongs. The 16-runner dash is a who's-who of the sprinting ranks and includes last year's heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), her G1 King's Stand S. conqueror Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. hero Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}).

Big Evs also casts a shadow over the six-furlong G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S., which will witness the return of Ballydoyle's Windsor Castle runner-up Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Molecomb third Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in a field of 10.

Lady Blyth's Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) romped to a 14-length tally in last term's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup and the Hugh Morrison trainee will be back for more in this year's seven-runner renewal returning off a six-length rout in this month's G1 Goodwood Cup.

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Yorkshire Oaks An Option For Classic-Placed Bluestocking

G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is likely for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 24, Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owner/breeder Juddmonte, confirmed on Wednesday.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the daughter of 2011 G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has never been off the board in four starts. After breaking her maiden at Salisbury in September, she ran second in a listed at Newbury behind Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her 3-year-old bow, and was third behind that filly in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot in June.

Mahon said, “Whilst we thought the world of her, her form before the Irish Oaks wouldn't have suggested she was going to put in a run like that, but we sort of always felt she had that in her.

“We'll look towards York for her. It will more than likely be the Yorkshire Oaks, but because she hasn't won yet this year she has the option of the race we won with Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) last year [Listed Galtres S.].”

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Alpinista Ready For Knavesmire Challenge

Brought to the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks as a still raw 3-year-old in 2020, Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the Knavesmire on Thursday an entirely different proposition to the one who chased the shadow of Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as she pursues her own lofty goal. Successful in the same trio of Group 1 races in Germany that her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) racked up in 2004, the grey had already achieved something truly notable even before her rampant return in the July 3 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The likes of High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were well beaten there and as his owner-breeder pointed out recently success here would mean she has won at the highest level in three different countries.

Sir Mark Prescott, the doyen of Newmarket, had charted the 5-year-old's path as meticulously as all those that pass through his hands only to have his best-laid plans derailed in early summer. “The original plan was to go to the Coronation Cup and King George, but we couldn't go for the Coronation because the filly hadn't come in her coat,” the master of Heath House explained. “That put her back in everything. She's now in the Yorkshire Oaks, whereas she would have been going for the Prix Vermeille. The cycle just got slightly put out from what we'd originally planned. It did look a very strong race in France last time out, but the ground was quicker than the other English horses wanted and I think it was more suitable to me so I hope it didn't flatter me.”

Perhaps Prescott's greatest horse so far was Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and it would be fitting if Alpinista, who is a family member of that dual G1 Champion S. heroine, could bring home a prestigious domestic prize. “She's always been the underdog and so far, she's proved herself to be top dog,” he said. “She's just very pleasant, she eats well, she's sound so far and she's just very, very straightforward in how you can ride her. I would think if all went well and she ran well then she would go straight to the Arc, but there is always the Vermeille if we need it.”

 

The Weight-For-Age Test

Prescott is one of those who believe that the weight-for-age scale is still correct and if so, Alpinista will be able to give nine pounds to Galileo's Oaks and Irish Oaks heroines Tuesday (Ire) and Magical Lagoon (Ire) and to Juddmonte's G2 Prix de Malleret-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon was adding to her win in the June 16 G2 Ribblesdale S. in the Curragh Classic a month later and it is hard to define where her ceiling is at this stage. Raclette is a supplementary entry, which is always significant where Andre Fabre is concerned and Barry Mahon is understandably excited. “She is a lovely filly and looked exceptional last year,” Juddmonte's racing manager said. “She has just taken a little time to come this year. We were trying to make her into a Pouliches filly and she just hadn't come. So Andre in fairness has done a great job, he has taken his time and she is starting to reveal her true potential. Obviously, Sir Mark's filly is a very, very good filly. We know how good she is, having finished second to her with a horse called Baratti (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a horse we like.”

 

Irwin's Plan

Team Valor International LLC's La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), who achieved a formidable feat in taking the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. on her seasonal bow at The Curragh June 26, is back at the mile-and-a-half trip over which she was so impressive in the G3 Give Thanks S. 12 months ago. Paddy Twomey's stable star could be the thorn in Alpinista's side in a race so strong it is bound to have a significant impact on the Arc. Whoever prevails in a vintage Yorkshire Oaks will enjoy the substantial bonus of having paid entry fees for the $2-million GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland, but Barry Irwin is hoping that La Petite Coco can first prove her class ahead of the major European middle-distance tests. “The main reason we are going to York is to test her against better horses and we need to get another run into her to determine if we are going to go for the Arc or switch for the British Champions race,” he explained. “We need to test her and this race will do that. She's a filly who kind of wants cut in the ground to be at her best, even though she beat Love on a course rated good. We're all set to go, we just hope we get a little more rain because she does better with a bit of cut in the ground. I was at Saint-Cloud when Alpinista won and you couldn't get more impressive than that, that was breath-taking, she scares the hell out of me.”

 

Putting On A Show In The Lowther

One of Royal Ascot's most impressive performers, Clipper Logistics' G2 Queen Mary S. winner Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) bids to defy a three-pound penalty moving up a furlong in the G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. Having earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-length defeat of the subsequently listed-placed Malrescia (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on debut at Newmarket Apr. 29, the Karl Burke-trained dynamo recorded strong sectionals in the Royal meeting's June 15 speed test and has since been freshened up. “She looks in really good shape and I couldn't be happier with her, to be honest,” he commented. “She did her last little easy piece on Tuesday morning and did it very well. I wouldn't have wanted soft ground for her, but I wouldn't have minded a little bit of rain. She's by Showcasing and they seem to handle most ground, so I'm sure I'll have no complaints on that score. She's obviously got the penalty to carry, but three pounds is a long way from being insurmountable, I think. We know she's very good. She's got to step up in trip and I'm not sure being drawn one is ideal, but it is what it is.”

 

Mawj Back In Action

Having also gained a TDN Rising Star tag on her racecourse bow at Newmarket May 14, Godolphin's Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) went for the G3 Albany S. at the Royal meeting only to come off second-best to Ballydoyle's Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) June 17. Perhaps fortunate to have survived a stewards' inquiry when beating Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) in the

G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at the July Festival July 8, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained half-sister to Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is bred to progress with time. Amo Racing And Omnihorse Racing's supplemented Lady Hollywood (GB) (Havana Grey {Ire}) is also there to test Dramatised, with the Alice Haynes trainee's defeat of Mauiewowie (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Naas's Listed Marwell S. July 20 now franked. Amo's racing manager Emily Scott said, “She is quick and so straightforward so you'd hope she would stay six, although it is a question mark having shown so much speed over five.”

 

Friday's Fields Confirmed

Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's unbeaten 3-year-old sensation Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) will face 14 rivals in Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York, with the July 9 Listed City Walls S. winner drawn favourably towards the far rail in two. Low numbers dominated on day one of the Ebor Festival, and trainer James Tate is relishing the “Win and You're In” gateway to the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “At present, she is going into this race better than she has into any of her previous three races,” he said. “I've had a couple of Breeders' Cup runners, but never managed to win one yet. She would be ideally suited to run there–over a fast five furlongs on fast ground. Whether we do it this year or another year I don't know.” The race's sole juvenile runner The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) is drawn on the other side in 13, with the Aug. 7 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) alongside in 14.

Also on Friday, Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is set to meet old rival Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup if the forecast rain arrives. “He won't run as things stand, on good, good-to-firm in places, but there's rain coming through on Thursday night. We don't know how much, but I'd look awfully stupid if it went good to soft,” the latter's trainer Alan King explained.

 

Click here for the group fields.

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Emily Upjohn Out Of Yorkshire Oaks As Raclette Joins The Fray

The Andre Fabre-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who represents Juddmonte, has been added to the Aug. 18 G1 Yorkshire Oaks field, bringing the total number of entries at this stage to 12. A homebred, the daughter of Grade I winner Emollient (Empire Maker) won the G2 Prix de Malleret on Bastille Day last out. John and Thady Gosden's Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the latest defection.

Raclette will face the accomplished Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is riding a six-race winning streak–the last four at Group 1 level–for breeder Kirsten Rausing and trainer Sir Mark Prescott. The grey mare most recently captured the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 3.

“I see there is a little bit of rain forecast in Yorkshire but the fast ground wouldn't inconvenience me, so I would prefer it if it didn't rain,” said Prescott.

“She did win her German Group 1s with plenty of cut in the ground so she's very versatile. What doesn't suit the others will suit me.

“It's a real privilege to be allowed to train her as a 5-year-old, but Miss Rausing is in a very unusual position that she has so many of the family, that while one of them is doing so well on the racecourse, she can afford to keep racing.

“She is adding value to the other horse whereas most people couldn't do that.”

Rausing could also have another runner in her colours in the Knavesmire race, the Ralph Beckett-trained Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

Some of the other possibles at this stage include G1 Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Jessica Harrington, G1 Pretty Polly S. victress La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) from the Paddy Twomey yard, and three from Ballydoyle led by G1 Oaks scorer Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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