Events / Graham Cunningham / 19 August 2009 / Leave a comment

It's Ladies' Day at York this Thursday and guess what - it looks like rain. No matter, dual Oaks heroine Sariska heads the bill in the Yorkshire Oaks. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham wonders whether the odds might be on the skinny side for Michael Bell's filly and casts his eye over the rest of the day three action on the Knavesmire.

"At [1.37] I’m happy to take a swing at Sariska with Dar Re Mi. Granted, Johns Gosden’s filly has 6lb to find with the jolly on official figures, but she’s tough and reliable and has plainly trained on well from three to four based on her gutsy Group 1 success at the Curragh last time out."

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1.45

A big field rammed with previous winners, but my initial reaction is to keep Alrasm and Rodrigo de Torres on my side while looking to oppose Di Stefano and Sir Parky.

Alrasm paid a heavy price for trying to roll with the freakishly speedy Canford Cliffs in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but his Doncaster maiden defeat of the useful Big Audio was impressive. Stall one doesn't look ideal but he's well worth another chance to confirm his Donny promise.

Rodrigo de Torres really caught the eye in the paddock on his debut here and duly bolted up from fair opposition. He's open to plenty of improvement.

Figures fans will point to the fact that Di Stefano and Sir Parky are rated 97 and 94 respectively, but will they produce those figures under these conditions? Di Stefano's tendency to get outpaced in the middle section of his races gives him clear place lay potential, while Sir Parky looked a real galloper over seven furlongs at Newbury and is another worth taking on in the place market.

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2.15

This could be a case of like mother, like daughter as Lady Of The Desert bids to emulate her dam Queen's Logic in winning this Group 2 contest. Brian Meehan's filly finished ahead of Rose Blossom in the Queen Mary at Ascot and sets the form standard here based on her decisive Princess Margaret Stakes win at the same venue. She travelled very sweetly there and Sand Vixen franked the form at Newbury last week.

Rose Blossom got back on track at Haydock, but she wasn't wildly impressive and has much more on here. Beyond Desire beat Nimue with authority on her Goodwood debut and should confirm the form, while Puff is hard to assess after coming from a different postcode to make a winning debut at Lingfield.

In summary, Lady Of The Desert is no star bargain at [3.0] or thereabouts, but she's plainly good enough to go very close unless one of the potential improvers really blossoms.

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2.50

A fiercely competitive handicap and, rather than drone on at length about assorted horses who could go well at their best, I'll keep it tight and nominate Mirrored and Lovelace as two of the stronger players.

There is no fancy story surrounding Mirrored. He's just a smart and reliable type who has been competing with honour in some of the best handicaps around this season and this return to a mile shouldn't trouble him in the slightest.

Lovelace is perhaps a slightly more risky investment given that he tends to be dropped out and often finds trouble in running. However, he's also a horse with bags of ability. The faster they go the better it will suit him and Jamie Spencer will relish the challenge of finding the breaks when he needs them.

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3.25

It's all a question of price as regards dual Oaks winner Sariska.

At [1.5] she would be hard to oppose given that she seems to be going from strength to strength, but I was surprised to see her trading as short as [1.36] when I looked at the market on Wednesday afternoon.

And at that price I'm happy to take a swing at her with Dar Re Mi. Granted, Johns Gosden's filly has 6lb to find with the jolly on official figures, but she's tough and reliable and has plainly trained on well from three to four based on her gutsy Group 1 success at the Curragh last time out.

Barshiba is likely to cut out the running for a long way, while Tamarind is plainly progressive based on a recent Group 3 success in Ireland, but Dar Re Mi looks the value call.

It's a shame there aren't eight runners for each way purposes, but good things do get beaten. To my mind Sariska may have more to do than the market suggests here. And, for all that she probably needs the favourite to run below her best, Dar Re Mi is the sort of dogged competitor who might just give Sariska a real race here.

Tags: Alrasm, Dar Re Mi, Lady Of The Desert, Lovelace, Mirrored, Rodrigo de Torres, Sariska, Yorkshire Oaks