Super Sar set for Oaks showdown
Michael Bell described Thursday’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks as “one for the purists” as he prepares to saddle his star filly Sariska.
Last year’s English and Irish Oaks winner was a narrow second to Dar Re Mi in the Group One contest 12 months ago, and faces another stern examination in what could be one of the races of the season.
This year’s dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy and Sariska’s old rival Midday 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.
“When we and Midday meet on a level playing field, as we did in the Oaks last year, there is only a head between us, and she is obviously right on her game having won the Nassau last time.
“Snow Fairy has been visually very impressive and is quite clearly the best three-year-old filly around.
“I think it’s the first time the generations have clashed and it’s going to be a very interesting race for everyone to enjoy.”
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. While there’s nothing obvious to suggest why we should reverse the form, I don’t think there’s too much between them on their best form.
“I know my filly is in great nick and she really impressed me in the Nassau Stakes. The way she idled in front and tried to pull up towards the finish before rallying and going away again to win comfortably was the sign of a top-class filly.
“There aren’t too many horses that can do that and going into the week I gave her the same sort of chance as Twice Over, and everyone knows how close we went on Tuesday.”
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.”
