WEDNESDAY

TATTERSALLS MUSIDORA STAKES (GROUP 3)

AIDAN O’Brien’s 1000 Guineas winner Minding may be all the rage for the Investec Oaks but, in winning the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes most emphatically at York on Wednesday, John Gosden’s So Mi Dar suggested that she is more than capable of making a race of it.

Held up by Frankie Dettori as O’Brien’s Best In The World made the running, So Mi Dar (4/5) made ground easily to lead two furlongs from home.

Bustled along briefly, she was soon in complete control and strode clear to beat Guineas fourth Fireglow by four lengths. Promising Run and Harlequeen were right behind as Best In The World dropped out and finished last of the seven. Gosden wins so many important races these days that it seems almost routine, while Dettori is right back at the top and completed a quick-fire 34/1 treble on this opening day on the Knavesmire. Trainer and jockey were both hugely impressed by a filly who could be anything.

“She did everything right,” Dettori beamed. “She’s light on her feet, she travels, she bridged the gap very easily and she quickens and stays. She’s got a good brain and she wants to please you. She’s lovely. It’s all down to Minding now. How good is she? We don’t know, but I know I’ve got a good one.”

So Mi Dar is out of Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber’s very talented filly Dar Re Mi (third in this but an absentee from the Oaks) and no one in the Gosden camp has any doubts that she will stay the extra furlong and a half at Epsom.

FASCINATING

“I’m delighted with her,” Gosden said. “The golden plan was to get a lead and settle her because she’s one of those who is very generous. She has a great turn of foot and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way she quickened up.

“I’m very clear in my mind that the best two-year-old we saw last year was Minding and the best three-year-old we’ve seen this year is also Minding.

“I think she is head and shoulders above the colts and this is probably the only filly who can give her a race in the Oaks. Minding is a relaxed filly and I don’t think she will have a problem staying the trip at Epsom.”

It is a fascinating scenario, with both fillies having been considered for the Derby at one stage. Indeed, So Mi Dar took in the Epsom Derby Trial, beating Humphrey Bogart and Viren’s Army, who have both franked the form without necessarily looking Derby colts themselves.

Lady Lloyd-Webber is clear in her own mind about the path to take. “Why would you not want to try and win the Oaks?” she asked. “It’s going to be a really strong field, probably stronger than the Derby, but we should take our chance. That’s my feeling.”

Minding is a top-priced 5/4 for the fillies’ classic with Betfred trying to hold up some 3/1 about So Mi Dar, though she is a 5/2 chance in most places.