Latest news with #MusidoraStakes
Glasgow Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Whirl-wind performance from O'Brien filly in Musidora
A market drifter before the off, the daughter of Wootton Bassett was sent off at 7-2 in the hands of Coolmore number one Ryan Moore, who was positive out of the stalls and never too far away from the pace. It was Ralph Beckett's Sandown winner Tattycoram that led the field of Classic aspirants into the straight, but Whirl was hot on her tail, with Moore soon allowing his mount to stride on up the long run for home on the Knavesmire. The further she went, the better Whirl got as she sauntered to a five-and-a-half-length success over Andrew Balding's Serenity Prayer, who made late ground from the back of the field. The perfect ride from Ryan Moore 👏 Whirl with a convincing win in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes 🏆#ITVRacing | #DanteFestival | @yorkracecourse — ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 14, 2025 Paddy Power trimmed the winner's odds for the Betfred Oaks to 10-1 from 33-1, but part-owner Michael Tabor suggested she is far from certain to head for Epsom. He said: 'Ryan said before the race his plan was to bump her out and get a good position and if they caught her, then so be it. 'I don't think anyone expected that (performance) particularly, but Aidan seems to be able to do that, as we know. 'I don't really think that Whirl is an Oaks filly. I think she'd probably get a mile and a half, but over a mile and a quarter, something like the Prix de Diane, I think, would be more suitable, but I haven't discussed it with Derrick (Smith) or John (Magnier) or Aidan, so that's just my thinking.' Whirl was a decisive winner of the Musidora Stakes at York (Danny Lawson/PA) On what trip would be most suitable for Whirl, Moore added: 'She's by Wootton Bassett, so you can kind of do most things. 'She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip today and I thought she was impressive. 'She's very straightforward, was always travelling nicely, she didn't do a whole lot in front but she kept responding and I thought it was a nice performance.' Andrew Balding's wife and assistant Anna-Lisa said of the runner-up: 'What a star she is, she's a lovely big filly. She struggled to go with them early as they went very quick but this is only her second run. To beat the fillies she has beaten is exciting. She's come a long way in a short time. Another Classic trial another winner for Aidan O'Brien as Whirl dominates the Musidora Stakes @yorkracecourse — Ashley Iveson (@AshIveson) May 14, 2025 'I'd imagine it will be the Ribblesdale (at Royal Ascot) next, but I just put the saddle on! We'll all have a good chat tomorrow but there's lots to look forward to.' Dual Lingfield winner Go Go Boots was third on her turf debut for John and Thady Gosden. Gosden senior said: 'We're delighted with the filly, she ran a very good race. She had a little trouble getting out of a pocket but she's run very nicely. 'She's learned a lot there, that's her first run on grass. That's what's happened this year, she's done two pieces of work on grass and everything else has been on the all-weather. 'We'll see what we want to do over the next few days but we are probably pointing towards the Ribblesdale, that looks the logical thing to do and we couldn't be happier with the run. She showed a great attitude, the second filly is nice and they were a long way clear of the fourth. 'These fillies are having to learn a lot very quickly and she probably got onto the course wondering what was underneath her feet!'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Racing royalty: Mullins trains King's Irish runner
Willie Mullins is training the first racehorse owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to be based in Ireland. Reaching High, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket before his retirement, has been moved to Mullins' County Carlow stables and is due to run at Leopardstown on Friday. Jody Townend will take the ride in the Lady Riders Handicap on the four-year-old gelding, who is being aimed at a Royal Ascot run next month. The Royal couple own racehorses trained by a variety of British trainers including Andrew Balding, John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas, Ralph Beckett and Nicky Henderson. It is believed Reaching High, who has won one of his eight races, will be the first horse owned by a reigning British monarch to be trained in Ireland. The move is the latest landmark in an illustrious career for record-breaking champion Irish trainer Mullins, who won the British jump trainers' championship for the second year last month. "We were introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot last year," Mullins told the Irish Field. "The next thing, we got a phone call asking if we would take a horse for them. "He could be a contender for the Ascot Stakes over two and a half miles on the opening day of Royal Ascot. His pedigree is all stamina, so those kind of races could suit him." Mullins has won the Ascot Stakes four times, including in 2012 with Simenon, who a year later was denied by Queen Elizabeth II's Gold Cup winner Estimate - the dam of Reaching High - in the Ascot feature race. Whirl was an impressive winner of the Musidora Stakes at York to continue Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's dominance of the Classic trials. Despite her odds drifting beforehand to 7-2, Ryan Moore was able to send his mount clear for a five-and-a-half length win from Serenity Prayer. Whirl, a daughter of Wootton Bassett, is as low as 8-1 for the Oaks at Epsom next month, but part-owner Michael Tabor indicated the French Oaks might be a more likely target. O'Brien saddles Derby favourite The Lion In Winter, who he says will "come on a ton for the run", in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. O'Brien's major Classic trial winners In May 2025 Whirl 7-2 - Musidora Stakes, York, 14 May Delacroix 1-3 favourite - Derby Trial, Leopardstown, 11 May Giselle 100-30f - Lingfield Oaks Trial, 10 May Puppet Master 4-5f - Lingfield Derby Trial, 10 May Mount Kilimanjaro Evens f - Dee Stakes, Chester, 8 May Minnie Hauk 13-8f - Cheshire Oaks, 7 May Lambourn 11-8f - Chester Vase, 7 May Latest horse racing results
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Horse racing tips: Wednesday, May 14
There's some cracking racing today at York (2.10-5.25pm) as the three-day Dante Festival gets under way, with the first five races being shown live on ITV1. The Dante Stakes – a Derby trial – takes place tomorrow, but before then the fillies will be looking to stake their Classic claims in today's Musidora Stakes, a Group 3 trial for the Oaks. This meeting is the focus of my attention. I have a selection in each race and my NAP runs in a Group 2 sprint. Ron Wood's selections: NAP: Elite Status (3.13, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Next best (NB): Miss Tonnerre (3.45, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Others: Almosh'her (2.10, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐⭐ Commanche Falls (2.42, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐ Gallant (4.18, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ballistic Missile (4.55, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐ Don Simon (5.25, York) @ SP with Betfair ⭐⭐⭐ Odds provided by Betfair and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5). If you already have a Betfair account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. 2.10 York – Class 2 Handicap (1m 4f) ALMOSH'HER has shown a lot of ability on the all-weather while being pretty raw, winning two of his three starts. He has further improvement in him and he could make a smart handicapper. Last time out, in a Class 3 handicap over today's trip at Kempton in March, he started slowly, took a keen hold and hung left but still won by a nose – the narrowest of margins. The selection has since moved trainers to Karl Burke's yard, which is no bad thing. This return to a left-handed track is in his favour and he should be fine with the switch to turf. Selection: Almosh'her (2.10, York) @ SP with Betfair Go to site > 2.42 York – Class 2 Handicap (6f) An open race in which the veteran of the field, COMMANCHE FALLS, gets the vote. The eight-year-old should be better for his recent return spin at Leicester and his most recent win came in a Listed race over course and distance in August. That was in 2023 but he's on a handy-looking mark and this is a lesser assignment than the one he faced at this fixture last year, when he finished down the field in the Group 2 Clipper Stakes. 3.13 York – Duke of York Clipper Stakes (Group 2, 6f) ELITE STATUS (NAP) makes plenty of appeal. This will be his first start of the campaign but he has been aimed at this race for a while and he has won first time out in each of the past two years. He also landed a Group 3 contest at Newbury last summer following an extended pause, so he's fully effective when fresh. After that, Elite Status came up short in a couple of Group 1 races, but soft ground was no use to him at Ascot when he was last seen in October and today's forecast quick conditions are in his favour. The four-year-old has had only 10 starts and is expected to make a Group 1 horse this season. 3.45 York – Musidora Stakes (Group 3, 1m 2f) MISS TONNERRE (NB) has the strongest form in this Oaks trial, with the potential for more to come. Ed Walker's filly was fourth in last season's Group 2 May Hill Stakes over a mile at Doncaster and the first three finishers have either won or been placed in Group 1 company since then. Indeed, the winner and third finished first and second respectively in this season's 1,000 Guineas. Miss Tonnerre was well beaten in France in October, but presumably didn't handle the heavy ground at Deaville and it seems likely she can confirm her earlier promise now, with her stable in form. She's well bred, as you would expect of one who cost 300,000gns as a yearling, and her pedigree points to this step up in trip suiting her. The only slightly off-putting point is that she doesn't actually hold an Oaks entry for Epsom, but she could still be supplemented for the race and she is in the French equivalent, which may be the aim. 4.18 York – Class 3 Handicap (7f) The form of GALLANT 's win in a novice contest at Kempton last October is good. Most notably, the runner-up West Acre has subsequently won two Group races in Dubai. Gallant didn't kick on from that performance in his own next two starts, but he shaped well when fourth over six furlongs at Newmarket last month, when the race didn't unfold to suit him and he didn't handle the undulations of the track. The time of the Newmarket race was good and the form was boosted when the third won a similar race next time. The step up in trip and return to a flat track should suit the selection. 4.55 York – Novice Stakes (5f) With three lightly raced and three unraced two-year-olds in this one, there's too much guesswork to dwell on the race, but Shane Foley is an interesting jockey booking for BALLISTIC MISSILE. This will be Foley's first ride for Richard Hannon, but he regularly partners the owner's horses in Ireland and this is his sole mount on the card. The selection cost €260,000 as a yearling. 5.25 York – Class 4 Handicap (1m 4f) DON SIMON is 0-6 but he missed out by only a short head at Chelmsford most recently and he's a late-May foal who probably has more improvement in him as a four-year-old. His dam was a multiple winner at the top level for the same connections and she has produced a couple of smart types.
