Musidora Stakes: A Battle of Oaks Hopefuls

The flat racing season is well and truly underway, with the prestigious Oaks just around the corner. One of the key races in the lead up to this British Classic is the Musidora Stakes, which takes place at York on Wednesday 12th May. The Group 3 race is open to three-year-old fillies and covers a distance of 1m2f. With plenty of promising Oaks hopefuls in the running, including the unbeaten Infinite Cosmos, it’s set to be an exciting race.

The Contenders

Infinite Cosmos, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by David Egan, has been tipped as the favourite for the race. The filly has won all three of her starts to date, including a comfortable victory in a Listed race at Newbury last month. Varian has spoken highly of Infinite Cosmos, describing her as “progressive” and “a filly we hold in high regard”. However, the step up to Group 3 level will be a new challenge for her.

One filly looking to upset the odds is William Haggas’ Runner’s Point. The German-bred filly is a half-sister to last year’s German Oaks winner, and has already shown promising form in her two starts this season, finishing a narrow second at Chelmsford City before an impressive win at Sandown last month. Runner’s Point will be ridden by Tom Marquand, who is in red-hot form after a spectacular win in the 2000 Guineas last weekend.

Another contender is Ralph Beckett’s Save A Forest, who has also won two of her three starts to date. The filly finished fifth behind Infinite Cosmos at Newbury last month, but Beckett is confident she will improve. Speaking to Racing TV, Beckett said, “She ran well the other day but was a little bit green. She’s had a good preparation since…I think she’ll be better over further in time.”

The Course and Conditions

The Musidora Stakes is run at York racecourse, a picturesque track located in the North of England. The course is left-handed and has a long straight, which can prove challenging for horses who struggle with the uphill finish. The weather is forecast to be dry and sunny on Wednesday, with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius. The going is currently described as good to firm.

The Verdict

Infinite Cosmos certainly looks like the standout filly in the Musidora Stakes, but the other contenders will be pushing her all the way. Runner’s Point and Save A Forest have both shown promising form this season, and shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s difficult to predict who will come out on top, but if Infinite Cosmos can handle the step up in class, she could dominate.

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Summary: With the Oaks just around the corner, the Musidora Stakes at York racecourse is set to be a key race in the lead up to this British Classic. The Group 3 race for three-year-old fillies features some promising Oaks hopefuls, including the unbeaten Infinite Cosmos. However, she will face tough competition from the likes of Runner’s Point and Save A Forest. The race is set to take place on Wednesday 12th May, with dry and sunny conditions forecast.[4] #SPORT