A STAR TO SHINE IN MUSIDORA

15:10 York

A decent Oaks trial here with a couple of live Oak’s contenders taking part. Teona is out of Sea the Stars and bred for the Oaks trip. She managed to win over this 10F trip as a 2YO. She had only two runs last year on the All Weather but she should prove even better on turf. A £280,000 yearling she was second to Sea Empress on her debut before stepping up in trip and although she was not entirely settled early on, she won very impressively by 9L. She is a very promising filly and could well be the Oaks winner, but this is her first outing and will not be at her sharpest.

If any horse is bred to win an Epsom Classic that horse is Noon Star. By Gallileo out of Midday she is absolutely bred in the purple. Noon Star has already had a run this season and made a winning reappearance beating Loving Dream by 2 1/2L at Wetherby. Loving Dream did nothing for the form in the Lingfield Oaks Trail on Saturday a race won by Sherbert Lemon with Ocean Road in third both these two horses were well beaten by Noon Star on soft ground at Nottingham at the end of last season. With soft ground a strong possibility here a proven ability to act on it could be crucial.

Mystery Angel could go well at a price here, trained by George Boughey who is a fast-rising star in the training ranks. Mystery Angel is one of the most experienced fillies in the line up and may be exposed at this level. However, she won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on her last appearance, she appreciated fast ground there but has plenty of form on a soft surface.

Auria has shown a knee action which should suit soft ground which makes her second on fast ground last time at Ascot even more meritorious, her pedigree doesn’t appear to suit middle distances but she stayed on well over a mile at Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien runs Snowfall here; O’Brien often runs horses not regarded as his best in English trials in order to get a feel for the competition. She was last seen finishing down the field in the fillies mile at Newmarket at the end of last season. She has only won once from 7 starts and would want ground faster than she gets here, I cannot see her winning here.

This is a trial for a 1M4F Classic over 1m2f so the main contenders won’t be fully wound up and will improve for the extra 2F at Epsom. Soft ground is also to be expected as Wetherby was waterlogged on Tuesday Evening. Noon Star has form on soft ground, has a recent run and is ideally bred for middle distances. She can win this before heading for the Oaks and renewing battle with Teona who may lack a little in sharpness today. Mystery Angel can stay on for a place.

NOON STAR (WIN)

MYSTERY ANGEL (E/W)

written by Steve Marriott