York winners the main aim for Sir Michael Stoute
If the idea of trials is to make the Classic picture just that bit clearer then clarity may be in short supply at York.
The Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes has a field of eight, half of whom hold an engagement for next month’s Investec Oaks at Epsom, but it could be one of the others who is in the winner’s enclosure this time.
The likely favourite is Aviate, who will be attempting to provide Henry Cecil with a ninth victory in the race. She has won both of her starts, the most recent of which was in a Listed race at Ascot last month. But that was over a mile and her breeding suggests that her stamina may not stretch to this extended 10 furlongs and the entry for the Coronation Stakes, back over a mile, is another hint.
The win for Midas Touch in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday will have been a welcome boost for Aidan O’Brien by three winners from his last 30 runners also points out that there is a fair way to go yet in terms of stable form which makes Cabaret, a Group Three winner last July, less appealing.
The other Irish-trained runner, Gold Bubbles, comes from the yard of Jim Bolger, who has won the Musidora three times with Condessa (1981), Give Thanks (1983) and Lush Lashes (2008). However this filly’s form appears to have been getting worse with each run and Bikini Babe appeared to have her limitations exposed when she finished eight lengths fourth to Chabal in the Classic Trail at Sandown Park last month.
Pink Symphony and Cracking Lass both look as though they might be a little out of their depth in this company but two other relatively unexposed types are Red Fantasy and Eleanora Duse.
Red Fantasy showed that she had progressed when she finished runner-up to Marie De Medici in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month and she may well improve on that. Eleanora Duse will have to improve on her best form to have a chance but Sir Michael Stoute has never listed kite flying among his hobbies.
The filly won a division of a mile maiden at Kempton Park in November (Aviate won the first division) and, although she was beaten at Ripon on her first run this season, she ran a race full of promise. There was precious little confidence behind her in the markets on the day and the race itself suggested that a step up in distance would be the right approach. Her breeding – by Azamour out of the Caerleon mare Drama Class - makes her a half-sister to Scottish Stage, who was second in an Irish Oaks, to suggest that Eleanora Duse can make her presence felt in this class.
Starspangledbanner sets the standard for the Group Two Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes on what will be his first start for the O’Brien yard since his switch from Australia. His two Group One wins there are testimony to his talent and O’Brien trained another Australia import, Haradasun, to win the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago. Starspangledbanner has three entries for Group One races at that meeting and may just need this run as part of his preparation.
Showcasing had good form last season but three-year-old sprinters often struggle against their elders at this stage of the season and this looks a good opportunity for Stoute’s Main Aim (pictured).
He has gone well fresh in the past - won first time out for the past two seasons –and was a good second to Fleeting Spirit in last year’s July Cup. His form did tail off in the latter part of last year but he was found to be suffering badly with ulcers and is worth another chance now, while Mullionmileanhour might make a place.
Such is the form of the Stoute yard that Imposing is being supported for the bluesquare.com Handicap despite coming back from a 391-day layoff. The colt runs in the ownership of the Coolmore Stud partnership so the fact that he has been kept in training has to be taken as something of a tip in itself but he may lack the fitness edge of Forte Dei Marmi.
Luca Cumani was foiled by just a neck when Mabait ran in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday but he still has a 25% strike-rate in handicaps this year and Forte Dei Marmi, who was gelded after his final start of last season, won well at Newbury last month and may be able to overcome a 12lb higher mark.
There are plenty of unexposed types in the Blue Square Handicap but Rock ´N´ Royal could have enough in hand to overcome his lack of experience and his victory at Pontefract last season has been franked by subsequent wins for the third and fourth.
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