By Tom Frary
Eight fillies and mares of contrasting recent fortunes line up for Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, with the appropriately named Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion) currently edging favouritism for Clarehaven in an open affair. One of the least exposed and therefore inevitably of more intrigue than most of her rivals, the impressive G2 Lancashire Oaks winner would be an emotive winner for Qatar Racing being a product of their beloved but ill-fated Roaring Lion and Classic heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}).
David Redvers conveyed the importance of Queen Of The Pride on Wednesday. “It's everything we hope for in an organisation like this; to breed, raise and race horses at the highest level,” he said. “This filly is the culmination of quite a few years' work and it's hugely exciting for all the team. Now is the moment, so we will see. There's no such thing as an easy group 1 and this is a million miles from an easy group 1, but it's great to have her in there with a proper fighting chance and the betting public have taken a view that she has as good a chance as anything else in the race.”
Can Emily Shine Again?
Life is never as simple as fairytales every time, however, and the biggest danger could come from within as the Gosdens try again with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as the 5-year-old bids to turn around a largely unsatisfying campaign. Her form figures in 2024 read a scarcely-believable 5426, but that is not even half the story. Too keen when run down late only by the star filly Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) when the ground had gone for her in The Curragh's G1 Pretty Polly Stakes in June, she was visibly uncomfortable on the unique contours of Goodwood but looks tailor-made for York's flat track granted the summer ground she needs.
Is The Century On?
If Aidan O'Brien can eke a small degree of improvement from the so-far progressive Content (Ire), this is going to be a landmark event as Galileo's 100th individual group 1 winner and given that she looked unlucky when second to You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Oaks it is more than possible. Clearly in need of this mile-and-a-half trip now, she could pull off a unique family feat if successful, with her dam Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) having won two editions of the meeting's G1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs.
Wednesday could not have gone any better for Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore and the rider is keen on his filly here. “It was a good run from her in the Pretty Polly when third to Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn and she stepped up on that when an unlucky second to You Got To Me in the Irish Oaks,” he explained. “She has progressed with every run and I think York will suit my filly though and I'm looking forward to her.”
You Got It…
Like Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me first showed her sizeable potential in Lingfield's Classic trials in May. Needing time and experience to mature and progress in the following weeks, she looked the finished article in the Irish Oaks and is the kind to carry on her improvement. “She did a nice bit on the grass on Saturday just gone, that went as well or better than expected, so we think she might have come forward,” trainer Ralph Beckett said.
“I think York is set up really well for her as a track, the timescale is good as well,” he added. “She is a filly who needs to be kept on the go, she's not one that you can be hanging on to for targets later down the line, you have to keep rolling with her. I was concerned immediately after the Oaks that I wasn't going to get her to put back on what she'd lost that quickly. As it turned out, I was wrong about that, you've just got to get your timings right.”
A Rich Tradition…
When it comes to the elite fillies and mares races, Meon Valley Stud can say that they have enjoyed a fair amount of success down the years but they have yet to land this prestigious prize. Given the nature of the operation's bloodstock, it is always possible that they will come up with a gem every few years and they supply a dangerously stealthy improver this year in the Hughie Morrison-trained Mistral Star (GB) (Frankel {GB}). While her win in Newmarket's Listed Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes last month needs to be bettered here, the manner of it suggests she can get involved and she has a genetic headstart as a daughter of the top-level performer Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}).
Leovanni Sits Lowther Test…
Not seen since winning the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Wathnan Racing's Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) bids to provide the Karl Burke stable with some recompense in the G2 Lowther Stakes following the deflating experience of Sunday's G1 Prix Morny. Also responsible for the Queen Mary fourth and Listed Marwell Stakes winner Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and outsider Unspoken Love (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), he is fully loaded in the race he won with Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) two years ago.
Ballydoyle's G3 Albany Stakes and G3 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes third Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) should prove a tough nut to crack, having collected Naas's Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes with the minimum of fuss. Rockcliffe Stud's Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back over six furlongs on fast ground which was the combination in place for her defeat of Tales Of The Heart (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in Newmarket's Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes.
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