INFINITE Cosmos can cement her Classic claims with victory in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.
The Group Three contest has proved a key trial for the Oaks at Epsom over the years, with Aidan O’Brien’s Snowfall the last filly to do the double two years ago.
Infinite Cosmos is from a family trainer Michael Stoute knows well as a relative of top-notch performers Hillstar and Crystal Ocean, and the daughter of Sea The Stars has shaped with huge promise in two starts so far.
The form of her short-head defeat on her Doncaster debut in the autumn has worked out well, with the winner Sea Of Roses now rated 100 after finishing second in a French Group Three last month.
On the strength of that performance Infinite Cosmos was a warm order to make a successful start to her three-year-old campaign just under two weeks ago and could hardly have been more impressive.
That victory moved her towards the top of the ante-post betting for the Oaks and given she showed signs of inexperience, it is fair to expect improvement on the Knavesmire.
Sea Of Roses is again in opposition, but the suspicion is Infinite Cosmos has more in the locker.
Last year’s winner Highfield Princess heads the field for what looks a strong renewal of the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes, but preference is for the lightly-raced Marshman.
Highfield Princess went on to enjoy a fantastic season following her victory 12 months ago, completing a Group One hat-trick before an honourable fourth-placed finish at the Breeders’ Cup.
However, she needed a couple of runs before finding her form last term and she faces no easy task in conceding weight to several high-class sprinters on her reappearance.
Marshman, who has won three of his five starts for Karl Burke, is in receipt of 11lb from John Quinn’s brilliant mare and only has 6lb to find on official ratings.
He proved he had trained on when dominating from the front in a Group Three at Chantilly last month and unlike Highfield Princess should be cherry-ripe for this assignment.
Real Dream is another potential winner for the Stoute team in the opening Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap.
The son of Lope De Vega looks a typical four-year-old improver for the master of Freemason Lodge, having built on promising maiden and novice form from last season when making a successful handicap debut at Kempton a fortnight ago.
It was also his first start since being gelded and undergoing wind surgery and while the winning margin was only a length, he was value for a good bit more.
A 5lb rise looks more than fair on his return to the turf in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Dakota Gold has already won six times at York and the veteran sprinter looks sure to go well again in the Churchill Tyres Handicap, while Caragio catches the eye in the Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap.
The latter readily accounted for the talented Highbank when opening his account at Leicester in October before finishing a creditable fourth in a heavy ground Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury.
Back on a sounder surface on his return to action, he has to be of major interest moving into the handicap sphere for the first time.
Haatem will take some stopping in the Follow starsports-bet On Twitter British EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes at Bath.
The Phoenix Of Spain colt came from a long way back to finish third on his introduction at Goodwood and with normal improvement he should provide Richard Hannon with yet another two-year-old success.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Infinite Cosmos (3.35: York)
DOUBLE Marshman (3.00: York)
TREBLE Real Dream (1.50: York)
YANKEE Dakota Gold (2.25: York)
