A trip to York in August has been hugely worthwhile for Aidan O’Brien in recent years. He’s trained the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks for the past couple of years. Will he make it a hat-trick on August 18?
O’Brien won the Yorkshire Oaks last year with Snowfall. That was an historic win as it was the first time since 1861 that the Epsom Oaks/Yorkshire Oaks double had been achieved. Could it happen again this year as Tuesday aims to win this month.
Tuesday only won the Epsom Oaks by a short head from Emily Upjohn. Her only race since June was in the Irish Derby. Tuesday could only finish fourth behind Westover.
The final months of the season could be an exciting time for Tuesday. Not just trying to complete this double but there’s also the Breeders’ Cup to aim for. O’Brien is likely to send the filly to the US for the Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Turf.
Emily Upjohn is also a likely contender for that lucrative race at Keeneland in November. Before that, can the John and Thady Gosden trained runner reverse form with Tuesday in the Yorkshire Oaks?
After a convincing win in the Musidora at York, Emily Upjohn went off the 6/4 favourite to win the Epsom Oaks. Her backers were in for a disappointment as the filly stumbled at the start and lost several lengths but still only lost by a short head, Horse.Bet reported.
Her one run since that disappointment was in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 23. That was a day to forget as Emily Upjohn finished last of the six runners and 25 lengths behind Pyledriver. No explanation for the poor run could be found. Perhaps it was just an off-day and a return to York could see a return to her best form.
A larger threat to Tuesday might be the hat-trick seeking Magical Lagoon. Trained by Mrs John Harrington, this runner is currently third in the betting for the Yorkshire Oaks. Three races this year have produced a second (losing by a short head) and then two wins.
The first of those was in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. That was followed up by success in the Irish Oaks last month.
O’Brien of course has several entries for this race. They include Toy who improved when upped to a mile-and-a-half and finished half a length behind Magical Lagoon in the Irish Oaks.
Concert Hall beat Magical Lagoon in April but hasn’t won in her last five races. That includes a fourth place in the Epsom Oaks. The O’Brien trained filly might have finished better than fourth in the Pretty Polly but for a bump two furlongs out.
This is another runner who could be in the Breeders’ Cup in November. Concert Hall has already had one trip stateside, finishing fourth in the Belmont Oaks. It didn’t go too well in her last race though, finishing last of eight in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Another day when no reason could be found for the poor performance.
Sir Michael Prescott has never trained the winner of this race. Alpinista is chasing a seven-timer in this race. Five of those wins came last year but a 238-day break didn’t prevent this runner winning the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month. A bit of rain might be appreciated if he’s to give Tuesday a major challenge.
