A faller in the second and third races, one of which involved a fatal injury, made for difficult viewing for racegoers and armchair fans alike as York – the Ascot of the north – opened its 2024 season on Wednesday. The result of the Group Three Musidora Stakes,with the odds-on favourite, Friendly Soul, finishing well beaten behind Secret Satire, a 22-1 shot, was also not one for many punters to celebrate.
There is no need to look back any further than last year’s running of the Musidora to find an example of a surprise winner – Soul Sister – that followed up in the Oaks 16 days later. Andrew Balding’s filly will now bid to give her trainer a second success in the Epsom Classic on 31 May, 21 years on from the first with Casual Look.
