The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes has been contested by many good fillies over the years and Legacy Link is looking to add her name to the race’s magnificent roll of honour at York on Wednesday.

The Juddmonte-owned filly heads the market for John and Thady Gosden, who won the 2022 and 2023 renewals with Emily Upjohn and Soul Sister respectively. Colin Keane rides Legacy Link at York.

Legacy Link is bred to be special, being a daughter of Dubawi out of a full-sister to Frankel, and connections will be hopeful she can build on her promising two-year-old campaign on what is her seasonal reappearance.

The form of her fourth place finish behind Precise in last year’s Fillies’ Mile reads incredibly well, with the third home Evolutionist and the runner-up Venetian Lace going on to finish to finish second and third in the 1000 Guineas.

Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon said: “I thought she ran a great race in the Fillies’ Mile, indicating she wanted a step up in trip. The form of that race looks solid, with Karl Burke’s filly (Evolutionist) running a great race in the 1000 Guineas.

“She’s in good form, John and Thady are happy, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing her on track. This filly was always going to be about 10 furlongs, possibly even 12 furlongs – let’s hope the step up in trip can bring out even more improvement.”

Aidan O’Brien landed last year’s Musidora with Whirl and saddles Moments Of Joy this time. The Justify filly comes into this as one of the more experienced in the field and was a winner on debut at Leopardstown.

She has failed to get her head in front in her four runs since, but was only a short head behind stablemate and subsequent Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cameo on her reappearance and looks as though she will benefit from the longer trip.

O’Brien – fresh from dominating the recent Classic trials in Britain – said: “We always thought she was a filly who was going to step up big time going a mile and a quarter. She would love a flat track, the distance and nice ground.”

Ed Walker’s unbeaten filly Felicitas comfortably accounted for 1.6 million guineas purchase Ribbon Of Sea at Sandown last month and steps into Group company for the first time.

Jockey Kieran Shoemark said: “I couldn’t have been more impressed with Felicitas at Sandown. For a filly that had only won a maiden on the all-weather, she adapted to both the turf and the demands of Sandown extremely well. I’m looking forward to riding her on a more conventional track like York in the Musidora.”

Sea The Storm justified odds-on favouritism when winning at Wetherby last month on her first outing since joining William Haggas’ stable. This will be her toughest test thus far, but she is highly regarded by her Somerville Lodge trainer.

“She won a novice race with a penalty at Wetherby, she wasn’t very impressive but she has some good form,” said Haggas.

“She won a maiden by five lengths for David Menuisier and then went to Germany and was second in a Group race. So she’s perfectly entitled (to run). She’s in the French Oaks as well, so we’ve got lots of ideas for her.”

Ralph Beckett’s K Sarra and George Boughey’s Della Pace round out the field.

Group 2 sprint

Kind Of Blue’s maturity is giving trainer James Fanshawe hope of claiming his second victory in the Go Local Stores Minster Stakes (formerly the Duke Of York Stakes) on the Wednesday card.

The son of Blue Point was unable to get his head in front during his four-year-old campaign, finishing third in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh and runner-up to Big Mojo – who reopposes on the Knavesmire – in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

He has not visited the winner’s enclosure since landing the Qipco British Champions Sprint in October 2024, but Fanshawe, who saddled Society Rock to win this Group 2 event in in 2013, is optimistic of a strong showing from his five-year-old on his seasonal debut.

“I think he’s actually grown up a lot. In his training at home, he’s been great, he’s been really straightforward to train this year,” the Pegasus Stables handler said.

“His action is really good. That is what we’ve been concentrating on and keeping him moving well. So far, so good. With regard to his temperament, he just enjoys his work, he is an enthusiast – he might be a bit fresh first time out.

“It will be good to get him out. He did a nice bit of work on the Watered Gallop and when he has had a clear run with things, he’s a good colt. Hopefully, he will run well.”

Harry Eustace is confident his Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals will improve from her comeback fifth in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket four weeks ago.

He said: “She seems great. The outing at Newmarket has definitely sharpened her up mentally.

“I was very happy with her run there, she was probably just a little ring-rusty as it was her first run after a long time off. We’re looking forward to getting her back to York. She’s run well there before and seems in good order. We wouldn’t want any rain, ideally.

“I thought it was a decent run at Newmarket. She travelled like she was going to have a real go but she didn’t come down the hill well enough to give herself a chance and she got a bit tired after that.

“She’s obviously got to take a step forward and it’ll be a slightly tougher race, but with the right conditions she should run well.

“We know the ability is in there and I think everyone felt after Newmarket that six furlongs at York would be ideal.”

Big Mojo is another who will make his first start of the campaign for Rutland-based Yorkshireman Mick Appleby.

“He’s doing good. He’s been training well and he’s in good form,” he said.

“He should be competitive. He’s fit and well, he’s done plenty of work and we just hope the rain keeps away. It’s looking like on Wednesday there could be a fair bit of rain.

“It will be a similar campaign to last season, he will predominantly stick to six furlongs.”

Criterion Stakes winner Quinault is back at the Knavesmire for Stuart Williams, while Cool Hoof Luke, trained by Andrew Balding, returns to the scene of his Gimcrack Stakes success in August 2024, which was his last run on turf.

American Affair makes his long-awaited return for Jim Goldie, having been off the track since his King Charles III Stakes success 11 months ago.

Richard Hannon’s Aramram also features alongside the William Haggas-trained York specialist Elmonjed, Clive Cox’s pair of Jasour and Diligent Harry and Regional from Ed Bethell’s yard among others.