York Wednesday

THE Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes produced a high-quality field of 12, and there is no doubt that the winner, Starman (Ed Walker/Oisin Murphy) is a potential superstar, given the manner in which he powered to the front and then held off the late challenge of Nahaarr (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) by a neck, with July Cup winner Oxted (Roger Teal/Ryan Moore) over three lengths away in third.

Starman, whose only defeat to date came at Ascot on British Champions Day, was returned at 5/1 behind joint-favourites Oxted and Art Power.

Given the sedate gallop set by Emaraaty Ana (Ryan Moore reckoned they went faster in the mile-and-a-half handicap), it was impressive that he was able to quicken past rivals who were also accelerating with a quarter of a mile to go, and he then idled a little in front, only to pick up when challenged by the Ayr Gold Cup winner.

Impressive

That Starman and Nahaarr were able to put daylight between themselves and the others in the above scenario is impressive, and both look Group 1 winners in the making, so it’s no surprise that they fill two of the first three positions in the betting for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Oxted will be suited by the shorter trip of the King’s Stand Stakes, where connections will hope that Battaash will be vulnerable.

The race had a sad postscript when Molatham, Roger Varian’s 2020 Jersey Stakes winner, who ran as if amiss in the race, suffered a fatal heart attack in the wash-down area afterwards.

Canny Moore steals it on Ballydoyle’s experienced Snowfall

THE Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes had been talked up as a clash between two novice graduates who had both been heavily backed for next month’s Oaks.

In the end, it was the experience of the exposed 14/1 outsider Snowfall and Ryan Moore which won the day by three and three-quarter lengths, thereby giving Aidan O’Brien something to smile about after some uninspiring results in other British trial races. Connections of Mystery Angel – winner of Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes – made it clear that she would seek to lead, and given her propensity for setting a solid pace, and that scenario was no doubt good news for the much-vaunted pair, Noon Star (Sir Michael Stoute/Richard Kingscote) and Teona (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni).

A perfect trial for the market leaders was less likely to be good news for connections of Oaks favourite Santa Barbara, and Ryan Moore set about throwing a spanner in the works.

Mild fractions

Bouncing Snowfall out of the stall, Moore did enough to discourage Ben Curtis on Mystery Angel to take him on, and he then set mild fractions before quickening decisively with two furlongs left, exposing the lack of experience and apparent lack of gears of her main rivals.

Noon Star kept on stoutly for second, but her inability to quicken with the winner despite a good position was palpable, while Teona got upset in the stalls before pulling hard under restraint. In the end, she shaped very well to finish half a length behind Noon Star, her inability to sustain a big move from the back a combination of that run coming against the pace bias, and the fact that she had used much-needed energy earlier in the race.

Clearly improved

It should be conceded that the winner clearly improved having won just a maiden from seven runs at up to a mile as a juvenile. She’s far from the first from the yard to defy such a profile, of course, and the step-up to an extended 10 furlongs is surely a catalyst for a daughter of Deep Impact out of a Galileo mare. She was seen to maximum effect on the day, but it would be unwise to suggest she can’t make an impact in the Oaks, for all such tactics will surely not play out as simply.

Both the placed fillies will be better served by a stronger gallop, but Teona had more convincing excuses on the day, without considering that this was her first run of the season.

Her yard has a solid Oaks candidate in Zeyaadah, and while that doesn’t preclude her from taking her chance, she does need to settle better, and the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot may be a more suitable target in the short term.