Racing betting: So Mi Dar to call the tune in the Musidora
Trainer John Gosden has saddled three of the last five winners of the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (3.45pm) and he will be hoping to improve on that already impressive record on Wednesday afternoon.
The Newmarket handler sends the unbeaten filly SO MI DAR to York on the back of a gutsy win against the colts in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom last month.
On only her second racecourse start, the daughter of Dubawi battled all the way to the line in the hands of the evergreen Frankie Dettori to repel the challenge of Humphrey Bogart, with Viren’s Army back in third.
At the time, the form looked anything but special.
However, after Viren’s Army’s win in the Dee Stakes at Chester last week and Humphrey Bogart’s victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial, the quality of the that Epsom performance is clear for all to see.
My selection is bound to improve for that seasonal bow and it is also worth remembering that Dettori lost his whip at the two-furlong pole that day, meaning he was unable to give her any persuaders late on.
Gosden won this Classic warm-up with The Fugue back in 2012 for the same connections and she too arrived at York with little racing experience.
She ran out a comfortable winner that day and I expect So Mi Dar to follow in her hoofprints at 4/5 with Betway.
The Fugue had finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas before lining-up in the Musidora, which mirrors the path taken by Fireglow who poses the biggest threat to my selection on paper.
Fireglow made a mockery of her odds of 40/1 to almost hit the frame at Newmarket and looks a genuine danger if improving for the step up in trip.
The all-powerful Aidan O’Brien team, who incidentally saddled the first three home in the 1000 Guineas, rely on Best In The World.
The daughter of Galileo was a Listed winner as a juvenile and blew the cobwebs away at Navan last month behind stablemate Pretty Perfect.
She is bound to improve for the step up in trip on better ground and, as the sole Ballydoyle representative, warrants plenty of respect.
The six furlong handicap (2.40pm) looks as trappy as always with the likes of See The Sun, George Dryden and Tatlisu all likely to be there or thereabouts.
I’m going to take a chance on the two Kevin Ryan-trained runners FLAMING SPEAR and BOGART.
With seven of the last eight winners all breaking from double-figure draws, they look perfectly housed in stalls 16 and 15 respectively.
Flaming Spear won on debut as a two-year-old and his trainer labelled him a potential 2000 Guineas contender from an early age.
However, injury quickly dampened those plans and he disappointed on both his starts as a three-year-old.
Ryan has brought him back slowly and he was extremely well-backed on his first start of the campaign when runner-up at Newmarket, suggesting connections feel he is well-handicapped off just 99.
Bogart requires a bigger leap of faith as he hasn’t got his nose in front since winning over this course and distance back in August 2013.
He lines up from a mark of just 88, nearly 10lbs lower than his mark that day, and with such a good draw can make a bold bid to make all at 14/1 with Betway.
Pointers
Flaming Spear e/w 2.40pm York
Bogart e/w 2.40pm York
So Mi Dar 3.45pm York