The Dante meeting at York commences with an exciting day of racing, including the 6f Duke of York Clipper Stakes and the traditional Oaks trial, the 1m2½f Group 3 Musidora Stakes.
The Dante meeting at York commences with an exciting day of racing, including the 6f Duke of York Clipper Stakes and the traditional Oaks trial, the 1m2½f Group 3 Musidora Stakes.
In the Duke of York Clipper Stakes (3:00), Highfield Princess makes her seasonal reappearance, hoping to pick up from where she left off last year. The mare enjoyed an excellent year, winning three straight Group 1s: the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Flying Five. She closed off the year with a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland. John Quinn's charge has been beaten in all her first-up performances and this could pave for the way for Creative Force.
Creative Force ran credibly in the big sprints last year without breaking through and the team gave him a confidence boosting run in a Haydock conditions race last weekend, which he won with ease. The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old is two pounds better off than his main rival Highfield Princess on this occasion and finished ahead of her in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint when third. He does tend to find one better, but fitness will play a major advantage with two runs under his belt already.
Marshman is an exciting prospect for the big sprint races this year, having finished runner-up in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes as a juvenile. This will be his first run against the older horses, and he proved that he'd trained on when taking the five-and-a-half furlong Group 3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly on return in April. These experienced sprinters may prove difficult opposition, but it will be interesting to see how he shapes.
Unknown quantity The Astrologist adds some international flair to the field, having his first start in the UK since travelling over from Australia. Although not the best of the Australian sprinters, he represented himself well when finishing second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan last start. Connections are focused on Royal Ascot, so any result here will be a bonus for them.
WIN: CREATIVE FORCE
Infinte Cosmos is the focus of attention in the Musidora Stakes (3:35). She stamped her credentials for the Group 1 Epsom Oaks with a four-and-a-quarter victory in a maiden at Newmarket over Guineas weekend and will be a short-price to follow up. It is worth noting that she finished second behind the re-opposing Sea Of Roses on her racecourse debut as a juvenile.
Sea Of Roses commenced the new campaign with a good second in the Group 3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud behind potential star Pensee Du Jour. That could prove to be a strong piece of form, with third-placed Be Happy finishing second in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield on Saturday. The sounder surface would be the only question mark.
Jack Channon's Gather Ye Rosebuds started 33/1 for her racecourse debut at Newbury in late April and demolished a sixteen runner field by nine-and-a-half lengths. It was hard not to be impressed by her performance and the trainer seems positive about her chances.
Novakai boasts the best form-line in the field on paper, having placed twice at Group level as a juvenile. The form of her second in the Group 1 Fillies Mile would be a growing concern, with the fillies in third and fourth (Bright Diamond and Polly Pott) beaten in their respective three-year-old targets.
DARK HORSE: SEA OF ROSES
YORK RACING AND SPORT SELECTIONS:
Race 1: La Yakel
Race 2: Dakota Gold
Race 3 : Creative Force
Race 4: Infinite Cosmos
Race 5: Caragio
Race 6: Mashadi
Race 7: Splendent
