Starman (GB) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dutch Art’s Starman On Top In The July Cup

With the weather staying clear ahead of Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, David Ward's Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) had his day to deliver on all the abundant promise he had shown so far in his brief career in a strong renewal. Successful in the May 12 G2 Duke of York S. over this six-furlong trip, the 9-2 second favourite was buried in mid-division of the group racing stand's side throughout the early stages with the pace rapid up ahead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to collar the far-rail runner Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the final 50 yards, he hit the line with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the 7-2 favourite Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), with last year's winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) a short head behind in third as the stand's-side contingent swallowed up the game long-time leader Art Power in the dying strides. Jockey Tom Marquand was full of praise for the winner. “This lad is as close to a racecar as you can get,” he said. “He was pretty exceptional and you have to put him in the top tier of European sprinting after that–it was an incredible performance.”

This was an epic renewal of the July Cup, with what had already looked a stellar race on paper played out in reality on the famed Suffolk heathland. As the speedball Art Power was steered to the far rail by Silvestre de Sousa to head off last year's G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and gain the early advantage, the reigning G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. hero Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) ploughed his furrow up the centre dragging Oxted along in his slipstream. On the stand's side, the exciting 3-year-olds Dragon Symbol and Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) followed the tempo set by the outsider Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) along with Starman but the latter was outpaced even before halfway with the heat still on full up front. Heading past two out, calling the winner was impossible with a line of sprinters giving their all across the track but Art Power was in no mood to surrender, Oxted was drifting right and TDN Rising Star Dragon Symbol had gained the lead on his side.

Starman had been under the pump a long way before he came steaming through to join Art Power, Glen Shiel, Oxted and Dragon Symbol with 150 yards remaining as the cream rose to the top. In a finish where ultimately only the proven group 1 horses were a factor, Starman who had been denied the opportunity to show himself to be in that category by the deluge that hit Royal Ascot was the one who emerged clear best. Creative Force was staying on strongly at the death along with the race's stalwart Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), but it was the Ed Walker trainee who was heading up a star cast for one of the finest shows of sprinting prowess this track has witnessed.

“The last few days, everyone has been coming in saying it is one of the best July Cups we have seen for a good while,” Marquand said. “For a horse that has had six runs, I thought he showed relative signs of inexperience still but that turn of foot he showed up the hill was nothing short of top-class. He has always felt like he's not done an awful lot in front, so maybe he was just idling until I got there and it sort of flattered the winning distance a little bit. On the July Course, you have those undulations and to be honest it felt like it caught him out a bit at the three pole. Just as things started changing at the three he got a little bit unbalanced and done for a bit of toe, but as soon as he levelled off and worked into top gear there was never a moment that I didn't think I was going to get there, which is a rare feeling in a top-class race like that.”

Introduced almost a year ago to the day, Starman opened his account on Lingfield's Polytrack before impressing when following up at Doncaster in August with the runners-up in both contests being the eventual Wokingham H. second and third Fresh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and King's Lynn (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}). Dismissing the York specialist Dakota Gold (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in that track's Listed Garrowby S. the following month, he was unable to feature when beating only two home in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. on Ascot's rain-hit champions day card but had regained momentum in the Duke of York as if the latter experience was just a figment of Walker's imagination.

That trainer was enjoying a breakthrough first group 1 winner and said, “It's taken its time, but better late than never as they say. I always believed so much in this horse. I put a lot of pressure on myself and it's great that belief has been vindicated. His only blip was on bad ground at Ascot last season and we've been proved to have made the right call in missing the Royal meeting. I hoped he'd win a group 1 and we dreamed that he'll be a sprinter of a generation. A horse that was going through the grades as quickly as he was, you have to dream. They're all champions when they walk into the yard, but this horse has never let us down.”

Walker also has the recent G3 Sandown Sprint S. winner Came From the Dark (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), but he made it clear that they would be kept apart. “In my mind, they're not in the same league,” he said. “He's a very good horse Came From the Dark, but this guy has that brilliance. Came From the Dark has got guts and battles it out. I think Came From the Dark is more of a five-furlong horse whereas with this guy, it looks like six is the absolute minimum. We'll look at the [Sept. 4 G1 Haydock] Sprint Cup and the [G1] Prix Maurice de Gheest [at Deauville Aug. 8]. For the first time ever in watching him it wasn't happening. I was feeling sorry for myself at the three pole thinking 'more bad luck in big races'. I watched down at the one pole and as they came past me I thought he has still got quite a bit of ground to make up here but he did it.”

Owner-breeder David Ward added, “He's probably a horse of a lifetime. He was just the second horse I've bred. We always believed he was a seriously talented horse and he is.” Oisin Murphy, who rode the winner in the Duke of York but who committed to the runner-up this time, said, “I'm thrilled for Ed Walker. I was given the choice and I picked the wrong one, but I'm thrilled for their team and they're having a fantastic season. I hope Dragon Symbol will get his day, we could well look to France next potentially for the Prix Maurice de Gheest.”

Starman becomes the fourth group 1 winner for Cheveley Park Stud's resident Dutch Art (GB), who was second in this in 2007 and whose previous best was the 2014 July Cup hero Slade Power (Ire). He is also the second foal out of the 10-furlong winner Northern Star (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), a €50,000 Goffs Orby yearling in 2011 whose first was the G3 Oh So Sharp S. and G3 Summer S. third Sunday Star (GB) (Kodiac {GB}). Northern Star is kin to the GII Tampa Bay Derby winner and GI Arkansas Derby runner-up King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) and is a granddaughter of the stakes scorer Slow Down (Seattle Slew) who produced the G3 La Coupe scorer Slow Pace (Distorted Humor) and his GIII Pat Day Mile-winning full-brother Funny Duck. The fourth dam is the GI Beverly Hills H. heroine Corrazona (El Gran Senor), a half to the GI Wood Memorial-winning sire Thirty Six Red (Slew O'Gold). Northern Star's currently last known foal is an unraced 3-year-old filly by Kingman (GB) named Lodestar (GB).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DARLEY JULY CUP S.-G1, £510,750, Newmarket, 7-10, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.11, g/f.
1–STARMAN (GB), 132, c, 4, by Dutch Art (GB)
1st Dam: Northern Star (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Slow Down, by Seattle Slew
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-David Ward (GB); T-Ed Walker; J-Tom Marquand. £289,646. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $521,936. *1/2 to Sunday Star (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), MGSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dragon Symbol (GB), 126, c, 3, Cable Bay (Ire)–Arcamist (GB), by Arcano (Ire). (67,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT). O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. £109,811.
3–Oxted (GB), 132, g, 5, Mayson (GB)–Charlotte Rosina (GB), by Choisir (Aus). (£400,000 RNA 3yo '19 GOFLON). O-S Piper, T Hirschfeld, D Fish & J Collins; B-Homecroft Wealth Racing (GB); T-Roger Teal. £54,957.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 4.50, 3.50, 5.50.
Also Ran: Art Power (Ire), Creative Force (Ire), Glen Shiel (GB), Brando (GB), Garrus (Ire), Chil Chil (GB), Rohaan (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Glorious Journey (GB), Line of Departure (Ire), Extravagant Kid, Supremacy (Ire), Method (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Miss Amulet (Ire), Good Effort (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Oxted Faces 22 in July Cup Defence

A total of 23 horses have been confirmed for the July 10 G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, including Roger Teal's 2020 victor Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). Second in the G3 Abernant S. at HQ on Apr. 15, the entire was third behind the reopposing Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 12, prior to doubling his Group 1 tally in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 15. Dual group winner and last out June 19 Wokingham S. hero Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) and listed winner Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) were both supplemented.

“It feels like a real championship race, you have all the best horses of the generation in there, but it's a shame not to have the Diamond Jubilee winner there alongside the King's Stand winner,” Starman's trainer Ed Walker said. “Starman has got an opportunity to be the sprinter of his generation because he's only got the one blip on his record, I'd love to think he could be the next Muhaarar.

“He's done absolutely nothing wrong bar that run on bad ground, I just don't know how much is up his sleeve–only he can answer that question and hopefully he does answer it on Saturday.”

Group 3 winner Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is “at the top of her game” according to her trainer Andrew Balding and is trying the Group 1 level for the first time. The King Power Racing 5-year-old is lining up for the July Cup. A half-sister to four-time Group 2 winner Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), Chil Chil saluted in a May 1 handicap at Newmarket and earned a career high when saluting in the G3 William Hill Chipchase S. at Newcastle on June 26.

“She will go for the July Cup if the ground is good or faster,” said Balding. “She showed some pretty useful form last year when conditions were right and she was a little bit unfortunate on a couple of occasions. Beat The Bank, her brother, got better with age and it appears she is. It is a big step up in class but she likes the track at Newmarket and I don't see why she won't like this one, so why not have a go?

“She travelled strongly at Newcastle and I was impressed with the way she picked up in the second half of the race. She is clearly a filly at the top of her game. It would be nice if she could prove up to this level.”

First past the post in the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot, but disqualified for interference, Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) returns for trainer Archie Watson. Watson also sends out G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprit S. winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was second to the now-injured Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. also at Royal Ascot.

Among the other entrants as of Monday are: G3 Jersey S. winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for trainer Charlie Appleby, G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) for trainer Clive Cox, Joseph O'Brien's Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who won the G1 National S., the group winner Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Tim Easterby and G1 Queen Anne S. second Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for Aidan O'Brien.

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Starman Set to Miss Jubilee

Thursday to Friday at Royal Ascot was like chalk and cheese and now that the meeting has become chopped in two by the unprecedented rainstorm there is only need for mudlarks to apply for Saturday's finale. Just as David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was pulled out of the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, so there must be a major doubt as to whether his Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) will be allowed to take part in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Looking the one to beat before the deluge, the May 12 G2 Duke of York S. winner came unstuck on testing autumn ground in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. and even though this type of heavy surface may differ in its nature it will still compromise his best qualities. Trainer Ed Walker cast major doubts on his participation on Friday.

“I think it's pretty unlikely he will run,” he said. “His only defeat so far came on soft ground here last year. It's frustrating, as not only is it a lovely opportunity at Royal Ascot, but some of the other races he might go for, like the Maurice de Gheest and the Sprint Cup at Haydock, are often run on soft ground so it's frustrating to lose a summer target to freakish weather. We've just got to hope the weather improves and it dries up now. He is entered in the [G1] July Cup [at Newmarket July 10], so that is an option if the ground dried up.”

Deep ground is no deal-breaker for Saeed Suhail's Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead), as he showed when winning the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup in September following his seven-length romp in the seven-furlong G2 Hungerford S. at Newbury the previous month. Beaten a head in each of the last two editions of this race and in front a stride after the line in both, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained veteran appeared as sprightly as ever when taking the Listed Leisure S. over this trip at Windsor May 17 and if he can make it third time lucky it will be one of the stories of the week. “He's going very good at home. He couldn't be better, you just don't know about the draw [in three] but with 14 runners it shouldn't make much difference,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond said. “He's working very well and he couldn't be better.”

Third in the Silver Wokingham H. over this course and distance at last year's meeting, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Nahaarr (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has subsequently made major strides to become a burgeoning top-flight sprinter. Successful on good-to-soft in the Ayr Gold Cup in September, he was just a neck behind behind Starman and 3 1/4 lengths in front of Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the Duke of York. Trainer William Haggas said, “He ran a very good race in the Duke of York. I think he might be a little bit better with a bit of cut in the ground. If they go fast and he can wait a bit, I think he'll come home well.”

Testing ground is the order of the day for the British Champions Sprint S. hero Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who put up a creditable comeback performance when fourth under a penalty in the G3 Greenlands S. at The Curragh May 22. He is closely matched with Moyglare Stud's acquisition Sonaiyla (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), having had her back in second in last year's G3 Phoenix Sprint S. also at The Curragh. Although the mare was only 10th beaten him on Champions Day, she was a place ahead of him when third in the Greenlands on better weight terms and has since taken the G3 Ballyogan S. back at that venue June 2.

Hambleton Racing's Simon Turner said of Glen Shiel, “Obviously we welcome the rain at Ascot and he's in great condition at home. He's come on for his reappearance run in Ireland and we couldn't be happier with him. It was testing ground when he won there in the autumn and while he handles it, I don't think he needs it. It probably just doesn't inconvenience him as much as some of the others. We are excited to run him and I think plenty of people will latch on to Glen as he has that soft-ground form–he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.”

King Power Racing's Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) took the inaugural Palace of Holyroodhouse H. here 12 months ago before adding the G3 Lacken S. to his tally at Naas in July. Knocking on the door when fourth in the Haydock Sprint Cup and in the Champions Sprint back here, he should fare better than when sixth on his comeback in the Duke of York.

Preceding the Diamond Jubilee is the G2 Hardwicke S. over a mile and a half, where Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) looks to have everything in her favour now that the heavy rains have come. Rapidly-improving last term, the bargain buy has trainer David Menuisier understandably excited ahead of her 4-year-old campaign but he is not expecting fireworks here. “She should really enjoy the conditions, the trip and ground are perfect but she's running against race-fit, really good horses so we will go there respecting everybody and bearing in mind she is only 85 per-cent fit,” he said. “We want her to peak later on in the season. That doesn't mean she won't put up a lovely performance but I'm just saying, due to her exuberant style as well, she might want to do a bit much too early. The Arc is her big aim this year and there are so many big races towards the end of the season, so it makes no sense to have her at 100 per-cent first time out. In saying all this, it may be compensated by the fact she's highest-rated and loves the ground–we'll find out in the race!”

Aidan O'Brien initially had four engaged, but has scratched the Galileo (Ire) duo of Tiger Moth (Ire) and Mogul (GB), leaving the latter's full-brother Japan (GB) and Ryan Moore's pick Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) to represent the stable. Broome, who has proven versatile in terms of ground, is as consistent as they come and carries no penalty for his success in the 10-furlong G2 Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh May 3. Denied on the bobber by Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup staged on a testing surface over an extra half-furlong back there 20 days later, his ability to handle this ground was proven back in 2019 when he enjoyed one of his career-best moments on it when beating Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by eight lengths in the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown.

“We have a very strong hand in here and all have winning chances at their best,” Moore said. “Broome comes here on the top of his form and he was only a short head away from making it four from four this season in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. This has been the first time he has stepped up to a mile and a half this term and that could easily bring about improvement in a horse beaten in a four-way photo for the Derby. He has a very solid look to him here and he should handle conditions better than most.”

Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) took the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs on good-to-soft at Newbury last August and did handle going that was officially soft when taking Goodwood's Listed Tapster S. over this trip May 22, but whether he wants it this extreme is unknown. Boasting course-and-distance winning form at last year's Royal meeting, having come out on top in the King George V H. when Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was third, the homebred faces a test of his ability here.

That William Haggas has opted to let Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's winning machine Ilaraab (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) take his chance in this elite company speaks volumes. Looking ready for such an examination when scoring by three lengths in a competitive handicap over just short of this trip at York May 12, he was making it six on the bounce there and it is difficult to put a ceiling on his progress at present. “Ilaraab is rated 111 now and the other opportunity was the [Listed] Fred Archer at Newmarket next weekend. I'd have preferred to go listed and then group three coming out of handicaps and I think he's better left-handed as well, but he's in good form,” his trainer said. “He's a very interesting horse. He worked well this week with Addeybb so he's got talent, but who knows.”

In the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., Godolphin's Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) takes the next step up the ladder having taken every challenge in his stride so far in 2021. He beat Thursday's Britannia H. winner Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) on good-to-firm in a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket May 1 before following up in the Listed Carnarvon S. over that trip on good-to-soft at Newbury May 15 and could still be progressing. He is joined by fellow Charlie Appleby-trained Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who beat Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Feb. 25 Listed Meydan Classic before coming back to Europe to be second to Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) in Newmarket's Listed European Free H. over this trip Apr. 14. Fourth when ridden from the front in the G1 2000 Guineas back there May 1, it is no surprise that William Buick has opted to ride him.

“Naval Crown produced an excellent run in the 2000 Guineas and dropping back to seven furlongs will suit,” Appleby said. “A repeat of his Newmarket performance should make him a leading contender. Creative Force has proved very consistent over six furlongs so far this season and heads into this in good order. He won with some cut in the ground at Newbury last time and we are hopeful with his breeding that he will stay this distance.”

Sir Edmund Loder's unbeaten homebred Bellosa (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) beat the re-opposing Fundamental (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Listed King Charles II S. over this trip at Newmarket May 15, but this ground is an unknown for her. There has to be a doubt that Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will handle it testing, so impressive was he on Newmarket's fast Craven meeting ground when winning his conditions event at this distance Apr. 13. Only seventh in the Guineas, the son of Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) may have to wait for another day to show his true ability.

Ballydoyle's Apr. 15 G3 Craven S. flop Khartoum (Pioneerof The Nile) put that behind him when beating the smart subsequent winner and this card's Golden Gates H. runner Visualisation (Ire) (No Nay Never) in a competitive mile handicap at Naas May 16. Ryan Moore is keen on his chances and said, “He was far too free for me in the Craven, but he showed his true colours when winning a decent handicap off a mark of 92 on soft ground at Naas last time and that was in spite of taking a fair bump coming out of the stalls. The second won next time and I think he deserves this step back up in grade. He has plenty of pace, so I think the return to seven furlongs will suit too and the rain may not be such a negative for him.”

There is a fascinating renewal of the Listed Chesham S. to open the card and the seven-furlong contest has become a staging post for Ballydoyle's Classic-bound colts of late. Churchill (Ire) scored in 2016 and Battleground (War Front) prevailed 12 months ago, so the pressure is on TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here. Successful by 5 1/2 lengths over this trip on yielding ground at The Curragh June 2, the full-brother to Broome looked a touch special there and his G2 Hardwicke-bound sibling has always been as effective with cut underfoot. “It sounds as if this has been the plan for a while and he certainly looks to have been very impressive when winning by a wide margin at the Curragh on his debut,” Ryan Moore said. “Whether or not he will handle these deep conditions, we will soon find out.”

Andrew Balding has already won the G2 Coventry S. and G3 Albany S. and his enviable 2-year-old crop is represented by Mick and Janice Mariscotti's May 21 soft-ground Goodwood novice scorer Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir), while Charlie Appleby looks to follow his 2019 success with Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) with New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Making all in a Yarmouth maiden over this trip on debut May 28, he is re-opposed by The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) who is bound to improve on that start emanating from the John and Thady Gosden stable. “New Science won well at Yarmouth and improved mentally for the experience,” Appleby said. “Ground conditions will obviously be very different here, but his pedigree suggests he might be fine on it.”

Also on the card is the six-furlong Wokingham H., where Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. seventh King's Lynn (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) backs up quickly to attempt to provide The Queen with a latest Royal Ascot winner. Again it is Ryan Moore in the saddle and he said, “He ran a great race when a close seventh in the King's Stand here earlier in the week and he would have got much closer had he any racing room up on the rail in the closing furlong or so,” he commented. “A reproduction of that run clearly makes him the pick of the weights off a mark of just 100 here. He has form on fast and soft ground, the extra furlong could even be a positive and he must have a leading chance if he handles the quick turnaround.”

King's Lynn gets five pounds from one of the talking horses of the moment in Chris Kiely Racing's Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), who beat none other than Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock May 22 having won the G3 Pavilion S. over this course and distance Apr. 28. Ryan Moore rode David Evans' stable star on the latter occasion, so has a direct line to him in what could prove a fascinating encounter.

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The Star Attraction at York

Racing royalty is on show on Wednesday as Juddmonte's Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) takes an important step towards an Oaks bid in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. on York's Knavesmire. Earning 'TDN Rising Star' status when taking a 10-furlong novice event at Wetherby Apr. 25, the daughter of the prolific Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) received a boost when the fourth home Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) captured Saturday's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial. Teddy Grimthorpe said of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained homebred, “If you breed Galileo to Midday, you're expecting and hoping to end up at Epsom in early June. That would be the aim of anyone, but obviously she's got to prove that she's a worthy candidate. Midday won twice at York, she won the Middleton S. and the Yorkshire Oaks and was only narrowly beaten by Twice Over in the Juddmonte International.”

Heading the opposition is Ali Saeed's Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who broke her maiden by nine lengths in a maiden over this trip on Newcastle's Tapeta in November. A daughter of the owner's G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) who was also successful in the G2 Middleton S. at this venue, trainer Roger Varian is looking for an Oaks candidate to add to his Derby-bound duo of colts. “She looks a very nice filly at home and we've always held her in high regard,” he said. “She's taken a while to come to herself this spring and I should think the run will bring her forward. That said, her last few weeks of training have been very pleasing. She's a big, rangy filly. I trained her mother, who also took a while to come to hand and Teona was never going to be a summer2-year-old–she's all about this year and beyond. This is a nice starting point and a lovely place to start. If she doesn't win it's not the end of the world, but we'd expect her to run well.”

Where the deeply promising Noon Star and Teona lack experience, Nick Bradley Racing's Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) has the latter in abundance and is having her fifth start of the year having won Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly S. over this trip May 2. “She's a filly who takes her racing very well and we'll give it a good shot on Wednesday,” trainer George Boughey commented. “We'll take it one step at a time. I'd say this is as good an Oaks trial as there is, on the pedigrees and the reputations of the two horses in front of us in the market. She would need to be supplemented for the Oaks, which costs the best part of £25,000. I think she would have to win at York to be considered for Epsom, I would say. She's been a star for us and hopefully there's more to come.”

Also on the card is the G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S., where David Ward's Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) returns to the course and distance of his success in the Listed Garrowby S. in September. Unable to handle the testing ground when 14th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot in October, he remains a sprinter with little mileage and great promise and trainer Ed Walker is looking forward to getting started. “We've been waiting for this race all spring. He's in cracking form,” he said. “I'm a bit disappointed with the potential ground. I'm hoping the rain stays away. He's been training great and moving fantastic, but it's a stiff renewal of the race. He was beaten by a few of these at Ascot last year, for which we blamed the ground. Tom [Marquand] said he couldn't get his feet out of the mud. We're just hoping that on better ground, over the course and distance when he beat Dakota Gold, he can get back to winning ways and prove worthy of a shot at the [G1] Diamond Jubilee.”

Last year's G1 July Cup hero Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) was a shade disappointing when 3/4-of-a-length second to Summerghand (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket Apr. 15, but trainer Roger Teal is expecting improvement. “He's been working well and seems to be in good order. I'm very happy with him,” he said. “He'll have to be on his A game, but he goes there in good form.”

One who is trying six furlongs for the first time is Shadwell's Molatham (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who took Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey S. last June and signed off with a 12th placing in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at that track in October. “We're hopeful–he's training super and looks fantastic,” trainer Roger Varian said. “He's a deceptive horse, because he's a fairly laid-back worker at home but in his races he's always been a strong traveller. York is quite a sharp track, but we're hoping that he'll handle the drop in trip to six furlongs and runs well enough to put himself in the Diamond Jubilee picture.”

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