York Ebor meeting: day three

Today is ladies´ day at York and 3 of the 6 races are restricted to fillies (or mares). The main feature is the Group One Yorkshire Oaks over 1 1/2 miles at 16.25 CET, in which Sariska (Michael Bell/ Jamie Spencer) is expected to complete the Oaks treble, having already won at Epsom and the Curragh. Although she was arguably lucky at Epsom, she was impressive in Ireland, and although the going may be faster than ideal, she cannot be opposed here. She faces 5 opponents, two of them 3yo´s trained by Aidan O´Brien, Tamarind (Johnny Murtagh) and Roman Empress (Seamus Heffernan).

The O´Brien team has been im excellent form lately, though out of luck at this meeting, but it will be a surprise if either of them is up to winning this. Easily the best of the 3 older fillies is Dar Re Mi (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune), who made all to record a narrow victory in the Pretty Polly when last seen. She is tough and consistent, but needs to improve to defeat an in-form Sariska who looks an above average Oaks winner. The Lowther Stakes for 2yo fillies over 6 furlongs at 15.15 looks quite open, but our 3 against the field are Beyond Doubt (Michael Jarvis/ Neil Callan), Gold Bubbles (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) and Lady of the Desert (Brian Meehan/ Martin Dwyer). The listed Galtres Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at 17.05 should mainly concern Fallen in Love (John Dunlop/ Steve Drowne) and Tanoura (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane).

The opening dbs St.Leger Yearling Stakes is the first in a series of very valuable sales races for 2yo´s coming up in the next few weeks. Richard Hannon is a specialist on these events and ddls 3 runners, best of which could be Sir Parky (Richard Hughes), but Di Stegano (Mick Channpon/ Jimmy Fortune) and Rofrogi de Torres (Alan Jarvis/ Neil Callan) ar two of several dangers. The handiaps as always look wide open. Two horses we have been following, Lovelace (Mark Johnston/ Jamie Spencer) and Docofthebay (Jamie Osborne/ Tom Queally), clash in the mile race at 15.50.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Di Stefano - Sir Parky - Rodrigo De Torres
2. Race: Lady Of The Desert - Beyond Desire - Gold Bubbles
3. Race: Mirrored - Roaring Forte - Acrostic
4. Race: Sariska - Dar Re Mi - Barshiba
5. Race: Leocorno - Flame Of Gibraltar - Fallen In Love
6. Race: Noble Storm - Mattamia - Green Beret