Tattersalls Musidora Stakes |
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| Group 3, York 15:45 £130,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1  |
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1 Secret Satire 22/1
2 Francophone 16/1
3 Classical Song
9/2
7 ran Distances: 2l, ½l, ½l
Time: 2m 12.64s (slow by 4.44s)
It's a 22/1 surprise winner of the @Tattersalls1766 Musidora Stakes as Secret Satire stays on powerfully under @oismurphy to score for @AndrewBalding2 and the Kingsclere team - an impressive performance from a filly who could stay further. Will she be Classic-bound now? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ubB7g9T489
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 15, 2024
In a captivating display of racing prowess, Secret Satire surged to victory, igniting her Classic hopes. Trained by Andrew Balding, the filly defied her 22-1 odds and showcased her mettle on the far side of the course under the skilled guidance of jockey Oisin Murphy.
As the race unfolded, Secret Satire maintained her position with determination, covering ground effortlessly. In the final stretch, she powered ahead, leaving her rivals in her wake. Francophone, valiant but unable to match her acceleration, trailed by two lengths at the finish line. Classical Song secured third place, a mere half length behind.
However, the highly fancied Friendly Soul faced a challenging outing. The 8-11 favorite struggled to find her rhythm, pulling hard after being positioned at the rear of the field. Ultimately, she crossed the line in last place among the seven runners.
Secret Satire’s journey to this victory began earlier in the season when she finished third in a Sandown novice race. Her impressive performance at York has now prompted bookmakers to cut her odds to 14-1 for the Betfred Oaks. Andrew Balding, no stranger to Oaks success (having previously won with Casual Look), is considering this prestigious race for Secret Satire’s next challenge.
His wife Anna-Lisa said: “Andrew was very hopeful that she’d come on from her last run, which was encouraging, and she looked well today.
“He said to me before I left this morning ‘come back with a winner, it’ll be tough, but this filly will finish in the first three’.
“Oisin was confident actually when we legged him up and he’s come back in and been very complimentary, so we’ll see how she is but I think the last Friday in May (Oaks) could be an option.
“They didn’t go very quick early and she was over-racing a little bit for the first half a mile, but she’s a gorgeous filly who really covers the ground.
“I’m so delighted for Guy Brook (owner/breeder), it’s his first Group winner, he’s a big supporter and I’m absolutely thrilled.
“It’s 21 years since we won the Oaks (with Casual Look) and it’s just lovely to have runners in those big races. It’s the time of year when all the geese are swans and all the smiles on the mornings can turn the wrong way round, but that one will really put a smile on Andrew’s face.”
Murphy added: “She wasn’t that silly early, we were just going very slow and I couldn’t get cover because the leaders stayed off the rail.
“It wasn’t a true test of stamina, so we don’t really know whether she’s going to stay at Epsom, but on that performance she didn’t do a lot in front and she deserves maybe to go there if Andrew decides.”
Francophone was sent off a 16-1 chance after winning at Southwell on her reappearance, with trainer Charlie Johnston admitting slight disappointment in defeat.
He said: “I always thought she’d be a filly comfortable in Pattern company, that’s why she went to the May Hill last year and Southwell sort of served its purpose as a starting point for the year.
“It looked a strange race to me, slowly run. Two and a half out I thought we’d won so it’s one of those, if you’d offered me this beforehand I’d have bitten your hand off but watching it live, two out I thought we were going to win as the favourite had pulled its chance away and the stars seemed to be aligning.
“She’s run well and showed she’s at home in this sort of company but the way she travelled there, I’m not sure she wants a mile and a half yet.
“She’s in the Ribblesdale but I’d be inclined to maybe stay at this trip (10 furlongs) for the foreseeable.
“Obviously for this owner (Kirsten Rausing) and this family, with black type secured, that is the first tick in the box.”
Ralph Beckett saddled the third, Classical Song, and fourth La Pasionaria.
He said: “I thought it was a good effort from both our fillies.
“We’ll see how they come out of it, Classical Song might wait for the Ribblesdale, I think she’ll get a mile and a half looking at that.
“The other filly, I’ll work it out, we’ve others to think about but I was really pleased with her.
“Both our trial winners (Forest Fairy and You Got To Me) will go for the Oaks and I’ll work out what we do with these two, something else.”
Tattersalls Musidora Stakes
£130,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2) Secret Satire 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 22/1
2 (6) 2 Francophone 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston Joe Fanning 16/1
3 (5) ½ Classical Song 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 9/2
4 (4) ½ La Pasionaria 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 33/1
5 (3) 3 Mayfair 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 4/1
6 (1) ½ Sinology 3 9-2 David Simcock Luke Morris 33/1
7 (7) 2¾ Friendly Soul 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 8/11F
