Yorkshire Oaks and Nunthorpe at Newmarket

Two of York´s 3 Group One races have been transferred to Newmarket today, where the going is officially gpopd to firm, but unlikely to stay that way after heavy rain this morning. The Yorkshire Oaks over 1 1/2 miles for fillies and mares at 15.05 CET has only 6 runners but is a high-class affair, with Lush Lashes (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) attempting to atone for an amazingly unlucky run in the Nassau Strakes at Goodwood. Although she flopped in th Oakas, her only previous attempt at this distance, she is still the class act here. She finished in front of Michita (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune) at Epsom, who has still won well at Royal Asco, and just ahead of Passage of Time (Henry cecil/ Ted Durcan) at Goodwood, but if she has the run of the race this time should again bea tese oppnents with something to spare. Gosden also saddles Dar re Mi, who is again partnered by Olivier Peslier, who roe he to an easy Deauville success last week, but this looks much tougher.

The Nunthorpe Stakes over 5 furlongs at 16.05 has an amazing field, although suprisingly South Afrca challenger National Colour is the only one of 14 runes not trained in England. He should run well, but needs to improve on his Royal Ascot form, where he was behind the Spanish-trained winner Equiano, who is now with Barry Hills but will also be ridden by Peslier as at Ascot, and Godolphin´s Dandy Man (Frankie Dettori) while Kingsgate Native (John Best/Ryan Moore) was below form that day but quickly bounced back to win the Golden Jubilee. As he won this event last year (at York) as a 2yo, he must be feared here. Last year´s July Cup winner Sakhee´s Secret (Hughie Morrison/ Steve Drowne) would have a great chance on 2007 form but has been a bit disappointing this time around, however he should still hold Captain Gerrard (Bryan Smart/ Tom Eaves). There are 3 speedy juveniles in the field today, inclufing PaulCole´s Percolator (William Buick), winner of 4 races in France this sea son, and John Best´s Flashman´s Papers (Jimmy Quinn), who pulled off a 100/1 shock at Ascot but is no longshot now.

The other race transferred from York is the DBS St. Leger Yearling Sales Race over 5 furlongs at 15.35. This is easily the most valuable race on the card, worth almost twice as much as the two Group Ones, and not surprisingly has attracted a huge field. Richard Hannon is a specialist for this kind of event, and saddles 5 of the 20 runners, with Donnie Charlie (Ryan Moore), runner-up in a group race at Goodwood, clear best and likely to start a strong favourite. Barry Hills is another one to be feared and has 3 runners, best of whom is probably Damien, the only unbeaten runner, with son Michael in ther saddle.