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The 1m4f Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks is the highlight of Thursday’s fixture at the York Ebor Festival, with the three-year-old fillies taking on their elders for the first time.
In the current market, Al Husn appears vastly overpriced at 7/1 especially in a field where there are question marks about the main protagonist. She has been carefully handled by trainer Roger Varian this season and her only defeat came behind Via Sistina in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in May. The four-year-old secured her first Group victory in the Group 3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes at Newcastle on the all-weather when beating Nashwa and upheld that form to score by half-a-length in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. The second-placed Above The Curve has since finished third in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet to give the result a further boost.
It will Al Husn's first attempt at twelve furlongs, which appears to be the main reason for her current price. Breeding would suggest that the distance should not be an issue – the filly is out of Hadaatha, a Sea The Stars mare who won in Listed company over ten furlongs. Al Husn's half-brother Moshaawer (Frankel) was successful over twelve furlongs and placed second in the 1m6f Melrose Handicap at the York Ebor meeting. Roger Varian's team are in great form with a strike rate of 25% from the last fourteen days and Al Husn appears to have an excellent chance.
Savethelastdance heads the three-year-old contingent, having won the Group 1 Irish Oaks on her last start, beating the re-opposing Bluestocking by half-a-length. The filly has done little wrong this season since her twenty-two length rout in the Listed Cheshire Oaks and proved she was effective on a sounder surface when finishing second in the good-to-firm Epsom Oaks behind Soul Sister. Despite her impressive form figures, there is a question mark about Savethelastdance's ability on quicker ground – although capable on good ground, she appears best in attritional conditions and could find one or two better in the Group 1 contest.
Ralph Beckett's Bluestocking finished second behind Savethelastdance in the Group 1 Irish Oaks, which was her first attempt at the top level. The daughter of Camelot remains unexposed after four starts and could still be open to improvement, although she has finished behind Warm Heart twice.
Warm Heart may be considered as second-string for Ballydoyle following her fifth in the Group 1 Irish Oaks but her Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes victory at Royal Ascot puts her in the mix. Unbeaten in three starts prior to the Curragh, she never fired in the Irish Classic and the run did not appear to reflect the filly's abilities. At the current prices (7/1), the daughter of Galileo looks a very interesting each-way-prospect with James Doyle aboard.
WIN: AL HUSN
PLACE: WARM HEART
