David Ord on the Oaks clues on offer in the Musidora Stakes at York
David Ord takes a look at the Investec Oaks contenders in action in York's Tattersalls Musidora Stakes and a William Haggas filly is earmarked as a potential Epsom market springer.
- Latest Sky Bet prices for Investec Oaks in brackets
- The Musidora Stakes takes place at York on Wednesday at 3.35
SPARKLE ROLL (14/1)
John Gosden already has a strong hand for the Investec Oaks with Mehdaayih and Anapurna impressive winners of their trials at Chester and York respectively. But here is a filly who could easily force her way into his Epsom plans. She's already on the fringes having run out a very taking winner of a warm Sandown novice stakes on her reappearance, impressing with how she went through the race before pulling two lengths clear of subsequent Lingfield trial third King Power. She's bred to be an Oaks filly, a Kingman half-sister to Derby hero Wings of Eagles, who cost a not inconsiderable 750,000 euro as a yearling. Her trainer has won three of the last four renewals of this race with Star Of Seville, So Mi Dar and Shutter Speed and this filly is a fascinating runner.
ENTITLE (25/1)
Another Gosden runner and a Dansili half-sister to Enable. If Sparkle Roll is bred to win an Oaks...well. This filly was too green to do herself justice at Newmarket on debut in June and wasn't seen again until December after a summer growth spurt. Sent off a weak 6/1 chance at Lingfield, she was still learning on the job but came through to beat Equal Sum by a length. The form doesn't' look up a great deal - the second, third and fourth have all been beaten since, but she's all about potential. She'll need to realise it very quickly to win this on her reappearance and develop into an Oaks filly but couldn't be in better hands.
FRANKELLINA (33/1)
Here's the potential Oaks springer in this field. A daughter of - you've guessed it Frankel - she won her only start at two, justifying favouritism in a mile Yarmouth maiden in October. A head defeat of Oussel Falls doesn't set the pulse racing but it was a nice starting point for a filly who showed lots of signs of inexperience. She's the first foal of Our Obsession, winner of three of her four starts for the same team culminating with victory in the 2013 Group Three Galtres Stakes here at York,
The Newmarket dogs have been barking about William Haggas' charge through the spring months and she was taken out of the Lingfield Oaks Trial on Saturday because of the soft ground. So she's re-routed here - to a track the trainer loves and a race that could have a significant bearing on the Epsom Classic. She's currently 5/1 third favourite for the Musidora - behind Sparkle Roll (5/2) and Sand Share (4/1), yet 33s for the Oaks. Clearly the same comments about having to quickly realise her potential made against Entitle apply here. But if she lives up the billing, Frankellina won't be 33/1 for the Oaks come 3.45 on Wednesday.
BLUE GARDENIA (40/1)
She took five attempts to get her head in front at two but chose a good race in which to do so, the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Montrose Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket. She's stoutly bred and is going to relish going up to middle-distances at three. The excellent David O'Meara will no doubt find plenty of opportunities for her but on balance they may be in lesser company than the Oaks.
DUBAI BLUE (40/1)
American bred filly who left the form of her Haydock debut behind when winning at Lingfield in September. There was a lot to like about the way the daughter of More Than Ready accounted for Dinastia by two-and-a-quarter lengths and clearly she's open to more improvement. The question mark here though is the surface. She's a half-sister to Skylighter, a Grade Two winner in the States, and whether she's going to be more effective back on turf remains to be seen.
NAUSHA (50/1)
Another daughter of Kingman and from the family of the useful Listen, she looked a bright prospect when making a winning debut at Newbury in October. The form has worked out very well so it was disappointing she could only beat two home when sent off odds-on for her reappearance at Kempton. She was too keen for her own good that day and faded out of it inside the final two furlongs. She'll need to be much more tractable here but even if that's the case, there have to be doubts over whether she's going to relish a mile-and-a-half at Epsom.
VERDICT:
Two fillies appeal as potential live Investec Oaks candidates in this field. Sparkle Roll made a deep impression when winning at Sandown last time and she could easily hurtle towards the head of the Classic market with victory here. However FRANKELLINA is third behind her in the Musidora market but over double the price for Epsom.
Clearly she has more to prove heading to York but the vibes are strong from Newmarket and she is in very good hands. She's bred to thrive over middle distances at three and it would be no surprise to see her run well at the Knavesmire and trade much shorter for the next month's feature in the immediate aftermath.
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
