The classic picture is near complete. The last brush of the Oaks canvass comes courtesy of the Musidora. In the past, six York winners have gone on to Epsom glory, the last being Sariska three years ago.
Thankfully the word “good” appears in the ground description at York tomorrow for the first time in a very long time. It’s been a miserable spring in Europe and trainers, jockeys and punters must be grateful to see the prospect of some decent ground. It might give the winner here an edge come the first weekend in June.
The market will have a tough time separating The Fugue and Twirl. Neither have much experience but both have created the impression of being high class fillies in what they’ve shown on the racecourse to date. John Gosden brought The Fugue back after one winning juvenile run to contest the Guineas first time out. She did very well to take fourth. A run full of promice considering she was struck into but seems to made a rapid recovery. She’s bound to benefit for the step up in trip but being by Dansili she might just have preferred the ground to remain on the softer side.
Twirl has the benefit of one more racecourse experience than her main rival. She made her debut late in the season, on the second last day at Leopardstown. It was an eye catching performance when running on to be third and she followed up the next week with a 6 L maiden victory. Out again on the first day of the season she went down to Chrysanthemum in the Park Express Stakes. She ran well tiring in the ground but staying on nicely to the four year old. She’s also a full sister to Misty For Me, a four time Group 1 winner.
Expect her to win here and add to the already strong hand Ballydoyle have for the Oaks.
In the Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2) the French filly Restiadargent has some nice form. She won a Group 2 last backend over this distance and was beaten less than a length on her comeback run in the Prix Imprudence over 7 F. The step back in trip will suit and in an open race and she could go well at a nice price.