The Epsom Oaks is now only three weeks away, and the Musidora Stakes has so often been a strong trial for the second fillies’ Classic. Providing the winner in 2021 and 2023, as well as so nearly doing so in 2022, it is a good pointer for Epsom, and Joe Napier previews this year’s contest below.
Favourites
The market is extremely open for a six-runner field, with four fillies likely in with a chance of going off favourite. The obvious starting place given his dominance of the recent Chester Oaks and Derby trials, as well as those on home shores at Leopardstown, is Aidan O’Brien, who runs Whirl here.
The daughter of Wootton Bassett has two wins from five starts, showing great stamina and determination to land the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh. She was thrown in at the deep end over 1m on return against older fillies and mares, ultimately finishing down the field, but should prefer this step up in trip against her own generation.
O’Brien’s record is not great in this contest though; in contrast, the Gosden yard has a terrific strike rate, winning it five times in the last decade, including in 2022 and 2023. Go Go Boots has only run on the all-weather so far, but she has won both starts easily, winning over 1m2f at Lingfield at the end of April and she has an Oaks entry.
The only other runner with a Classic entry is Smoken, who has also won two from two in her career. Both came as a juvenile and on ground described as soft or slower, but one of those was at Listed level at Newmarket, and the runner-up franked the form at Chester recently.
Serenity Prayer is the last of the quartet of possible favourites. Representing Andrew Balding, who claimed this with Secret Satire last season. She is bred in the purple, winning at Newbury on her debut, and could be a livewire too if improving as is likely expected, although she does not possess an Oaks entry.
Outsiders
Smoken’s stablemate at Ralph Beckett’s yard, Tattycoram, looks set to be the outsider of the sextet. She has competed in strong novice events so far at Ascot, Yarmouth and Sandown, winning the latest of those, but probably does have to step up further from that form than any of her rivals do from theirs.
Miss Tonnerre is interesting, on the other hand. She was less than three lengths behind Desert Flower in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes last term, running on at the finish. If Ed Walker’s filly takes the step up in distance in her stride, then that established Group race run might be the best on offer, and she can easily be forgiven a poor run in France on heavy going.
Musidora Stakes Racecard
15:45 York
Good To FirmTattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies)
- 1m 2f 56y
- Class 1
- 6 runners
- Win time: 2m 9s
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £4.50
- Place: £2.10
100/30
- Place: £1.90
9/1
18/1
7/2
5/2F
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £16.20 |
| Straight Forecast | £15.20 |
| Trifecta | £69.90 |
Selections
Musidora Stakes Prediction
MISS TONNERRE was not too far behind the unbeaten 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower when fourth in a Group 2 at Doncaster last season and that singular piece of form is as strong as that of any of her rivals. She is the joint highest-rated, should take the step up in distance in her stride, and looks a worthwhile bet against the big yards. Go Go Boots is feared most for the Gosdens, who have such a good record in the race, with Whirl next in for Aidan O’Brien.
- Miss Tonnerre
- Go Go Boots
- Whirl
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.