Sariska set for Darley Yorkshire Oaks
August 18, 2010 12:31:52 UK
Michael Bell has labelled Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks as "one for the purists" as he prepares to saddle his star filly Sariska.
Sariska (3.00 to win the Darley Yorkshire Oaks outright) won last year's English and Irish Oaks and faces another stern examination in what could be one of the races of the season.
This year's dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy (3.50 outright) and Midday (3.75) look the chief opposition, but Bell could not be happier with his star filly on her first start since finishing second in June's Coronation Cup.
"It seems a while since Epsom now and this is the beginning of the second half of her campaign," said the Newmarket handler.
"She's in good form and is certainly fit enough to do herself justice.
"She's obviously not right at her peak, and we've left a bit of room for improvement, but I wouldn't be running her if I didn't think she was fit enough to run well.
"She would just appreciate a little bit of help from above with the odd shower.
"I think it will be the most suitable ground she's ever encountered at York.
"It's a great race and very much one for the purists. There's two dual Oaks winners taking each other on, plus a Breeders' Cup winner and a very good supporting cast as well.
Midday has given Tom Queally some of the biggest moments of his career to date, with two successes in Goodwood's Nassau Stakes and a memorable triumph in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf.
While the jockey respects Snow Fairy, he sees Sariska as the biggest threat on the Knavesmire.
Speaking in his column on www.racinguk.com, Queally said: "Snow Fairy has done absolutely everything right so far and her form is impeccable but I see Sariska as the bigger danger.
"We obviously take her on for the fourth time and she's beaten us every time so the size of the task in hand is obvious.
"Both fillies haven't had the most straightforward of seasons. Midday was a little jarred up after York in May, while Sariska has had to wait for suitable ground.
"I think the ground will be fine for both fillies, so there should be no excuses on that front.
Snow Fairy's trainer Ed Dunlop is under no illusions about the task in hand, but feels his filly deserves to take her chance.
"We know that Snow Fairy faces a tough task against the older fillies, but the forecast is favourable so we are going to give it a shot," said the trainer.
"She has come out of Ireland great and she was very impressive out there, but we are realistic enough to concede that Sariska and Midday will be hard nuts to crack.
"We are taking it one stage at a time with Snow Fairy, but we have not ruled out going for the St Leger and we'll sit down and talk things over after Thursday."
bet365 are Best Odds Guaranteed on the Darley Yorkshire Oaks and Non Runner No Bet (Rule 4 may apply).
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