Just five runners go to post for the Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday but the field includes two of the first four fillies in the Oaks betting – Emily Upjohn and Life Of Dreams – as well as The Algarve, a potential improver from the Aidan O’Brien stable, which supplied last year’s 14-1 winner, Snowfall.
O’Brien has carried all before him in the Epsom Classic trials over the last 10 days, and while The Algarve has yet to race outside maiden company, the fact she is a daughter of Imagine, the 2001 Oaks winner, will also catch the eye of many punters.
This looks like a strong renewal of the Musidora, however, and the unbeaten fillies Emily Upjohn and Life Of Dreams have as much scope for improvement and stronger form already in the book.
Life Of Dreams, from the Charlie Appleby yard, won a Newbury maiden with ease on debut in mid-April but the clear form horse for Wednesday’s feature event is Emily Upjohn (3.35), who defied a penalty to win by nearly 10 lengths at Sandown last month.
Frankie Dettori suggested that John and Thady Gosden’s filly had the “wow factor” afterwards, and the current joint-favourite for the Oaks – with O’Brien’s Tuesday – could well be the clear market leader by Wednesday evening.
York 1.50: Gaassee arrives with a similar profile to Ilaraab, who landed this competitive handicap for William Haggas on his seasonal debut 12 months ago. The form of his easy five-length defeat of Trevolli at Kempton in December was franked when the runner-up went on to win his next three starts, so a 9lb rise may not be enough to hold him back.
Salisbury 1.00 Headora 1.30 She's A Mirage 2.05 Teumessias Fox 2.35 Missed The Cut 3.10 Miss Down Under 3.45 Loudspeaker 4.18 Regal Envoy
York 1.50 Strong Power (nb) 2.25 Ville De Grace 3.00 La Trinidad (nap) 3.35 Desert Crown 4.10 Boonie 4.45 Queen Olly 5.20 Ahorsewithnoname
Perth 2.15 Foxhollow 2.45 Champagnesuperover 3.20 Cilaos Glace 3.55 Aurora Thunder 4.25 Roma Bangkok 4.55 Boy's On Tour 5.30 Annies Regatta
Fontwell Park 4.37 Wicked West 5.10 Mothill 5.45 Gibraltarian 6.20 Dogon 6.55 Coal Stock 7.30 Soldier Of Love 8.05 Hyland
Newmarket 4.50 Taritino 5.25 Lucia Joy 6.00 Victoria Grove 6.35 Frontispiece 7.10 Aimeric 7.45 Haunted Dream 8.20 Looe Beach
Newton Abbot 2.05: Tulin was below his best last time out in December but has an obvious chance on earlier form and is back after a wind op on a 4lb lower mark.
York 2.25: Just Frank should give the low-numbered stalls a useful tow into the race with Mr Wagyu in close pursuit. John Quinn’s gelding was much improved last year when his five wins included a victory over this course and distance. He has eased slightly in the handicap and should be spot on for this after a promising reappearance in a strong race at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.
York 3.00: There is a distinct air of unfinished business around Minzaal, who has made just three appearances since a deeply impressive success in the Gimcrack Stakes over course and distance in August 2020. A leg injury kept him on the sidelines for much of his three-year-old season but he returned to finish third in the Group One sprint on Champions Day in October and can start making up for lost time here.
York 4.10: Samburu, the likely favourite at around 7-4, has obvious potential but an opening mark of 88 is high enough on his bare form to date so Code Purple is an interesting each-way option at around 12-1. He got his recent win in the stewards’ room but fully deserved to be awarded the race, having confirmed the improvement he showed on his three-year-old debut at Pontefract in early April.
