15:35 York

Thursday 23 August 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50

Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies' and Mares' Group 1)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 2m 30.44s

(4)

Coronet²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 113| C| D

4/1

Dual Group 2 winner, including in the Middleton Stakes over an extended 1m2f here in May (beat Horseplay by 1½L); stays further, beaten just a nose by Waldgeist in the 1m4f Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July.

Form: 253-123

(7)

Eziyra^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| D

8/1

Finished third in the 2017 Irish Oaks (to Enable), but progressive in 1m4f Group 3 contests thereafter; back from 11 months off with a ready win in the Ballyroan at Leopardstown (good to firm) a fortnight ago, but this is a far tougher assignment.

Form: 1/2311-1

(1)

Horseplay⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| D

16/1

Yet to fully prove she's up to Group 1 company (15L fourth to Enable in the 2017 Oaks), but she's had a light campaign, in chasing home Coronet here in May (Middleton) and posted a career best when winning the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

Form: 1448-21

(3)

Bye Bye Baby³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

33/1

Stablemate of Flattering and Magic Wand; highly likely to be employed to force a strong early pace; she was last seen finishing 5L fourth to Sea Of Class in the Group 1 Irish Oaks (1m4f, good to firm) at The Curragh in July.

Form: 3-81344

(2)

Flattering²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

80/1

Stablemate of Bye Bye Baby and Magic Wand; her standout career best performance came when winning the Group 3 Munster Oaks (1m4f, good to firm) at Cork in June; didn't stay 1m6f latest and well beaten previously by Horseplay in the Lancashire Oaks.

Form: 135168

(8)

Laurens⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 113

3/1

Tough triple Group 1 winner who has tasted defeat just twice, including when finishing second in the 1000 Guineas in May; ground versatile (good to soft is ideal); game winner of the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly in June; new trip.

Form: 211-211

(6)

Magic Wand^t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| BF| D

7/1

Stablemate of Flattering and Bye Bye Baby; disappointing in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh last month (beaten almost 10L by Sea Of Class); had enjoyed a productive season prior to that defeat, including winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.

Form: 7-31415

(5)

Sea of Class³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 115| D

7/4

Sea The Stars filly who kicked off her racing career in fairly low-key fashion, but she's improved markedly from race to race, and kept on strongly to take the Group 1 Irish Oaks by a neck last month, and safely holds Magic Wand on that evidence.

Form: 2111

Forecasts

Sea of Class (7/4), Laurens (3/1), Coronet (4/1), Magic Wand (7/1), Eziyra (8/1), Horseplay (16/1), Bye Bye Baby (33/1), Flattering (80/1)

A race to enthuse over and simply absorb. The brilliant and equally tough triple Group 1 winner Laurens turns her hand to a longer trip for the first time on ground which is probably quicker than ideal, but with a pedigree that suggests the extra yardage is within range, she's fully respected against Irish Oaks foes Magic Wand and SEA OF CLASS. The former disappointed at The Curragh; albeit with a potential excuse (question marks over the O'Brien string), but that's not to say that the rapidly improving William Haggas-trained filly isn't a worthy Group 1 winner. Her progress from race to race has impressed, so she's likely to take some stopping in this prestigious race.