Race Four: The Darley Yorkshire Oaks - Fillies & Mares' Group One - One Mile, Four Furlongs - Runners:

The strong theme of Ladies Day at York would continue as some of the very best fillies and mares would strut their stuff on the hallowed turf of the Knavesmire for the feature contest, the Yorkshire Oaks. Since its first running as Group One in 1971, the level of the winner has grown and grown. Legends such as User Friendly, Diminuendo and Islington are to name but a few former winners and that has continued into the modern day. The exceptional Enable won this race twice in 2017 and 2019, shortly followed by the brilliant Snowfall and tough Alpinista. Three year olds have an advantage in this contest and that was confirmed last year by Aidan O'Brien's Minnie Hauk, who delivered a short odds to complete the Chester, Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks quadruple before finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe two months later.

The class of 2026 would see yet another exciting and intriguing line up, which was led by the four year old Coedana for the Middleham yard of Ed Bethell. The filly has been brought along steadily and is now delivering on her promise after a listed race victory at Pontefract in June. Legendary trainer Sir Mark Prescott's patient approach with mares has paid off on more than one occasion and he has a similar type this year with Consent. The four year old went from novice race winner to Group One winner in the space of six months last year, but dropped away quickly when tried over two miles in France on her seasonal return. John and Thady Gosden are another stable with a good record in this race and they would saddle the well bred Danielle. The late developer has always been a classy horse, but won smartly over a longer trip here in May so could have more to offer. Godolphin's last win in this race came in 2015 and they would rely on Diamond Rain to break the long wait. The five year old has shown potential for this level with a couple of near misses, but hasn't been below her best in two starts so far this year. The highly popular grey Estrange finished a valiant second in this race last year, but David O'Meara's five year old will be a welcome winner this year. She gained a much deserved first Group One win at the Curragh in June and will have had this race in mind for a while. Another high class mare in the line up would be the Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana. The five year old has won the last two renewals of the Champion Filly & Mare Stakes at Ascot and has plenty of excellent form at Group One level. Aidan O'Brien won this race for the ninth time last year with Minnie Hauk and the classy filly would return to defend her crown this year. The daughter of Frankel hasn't been quite at her best this year, albeit over a shorter than ideal trip. She bounced back with a very good second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes behind Ombudsman. The Irish based stable of Paddy Twomey is a shrewd outfit so his runners at this meeting are always highly respected. He would send over the unexposed Moody, who is on an upward curve. The former-French based filly has done little wrong by winning both her starts with a bit in hand so looks worth a go at this level. "The Other O'Brien" in the training ranks would be Aidan's son Joseph, who has enjoyed a brilliant year so far. He would be represented here by Nyra, who finished a close third in the German Oaks last year. Since moving to Ireland, the four year old has been beaten in both starts, but retains plenty of ability. A second runner for the Paddy Twomey yard would be One Look, who carries the silks of Wathnan Racing. The five year old has won at a lower level before, but has gone close to winning on two of her attempts at Group One company. William Haggas's Santorini Star developed into a high class stayer last summer, winning over a mile and three quarters and then taking second in a Group One in France. She has beaten the boys already this season, but needs to return to her best after a poor showing at Royal Ascot. The first of the French raiders would come in the form of Francis-Henri Graffard's filly Sunly. She has tasted defeat just twice in her career and there was little disgrace in her latest effort when second to the high class Aventure at Longchamp this summer. Another runner who has progressed from further down the ladder is Tattycoram from the Ralph Beckett stable. The daughter of Camelot is expected to improve with age and distance, but takes a big step into Group One company after a listed race win at Goodwood. A second high class mare from the Sir Mark Prescott yard would be the back-packer Tiffany, whose career has been interrupted by injury. Despite this, she has gone close in a few Group One races in Europe in recent seasons and a first Group One win here would be deserved. Owen Burrows is on the lookout for his next star horse and hopes are high that those shoes can be filled by Waardah.  The lightly raced four year old won over a longer trip at Goodwood last season and looked in need of a longer distance when staying on into second at Carlisle over ten furlongs in May. Three year olds have a strong record in this contest and that age group have won the last three runnings. The Classic generation would be led by Ralph Beckett's A La Prochaine, another representative for the Wathnan Racing group. After a winning debut at the end of last year, she has shown classy form since which includes a well beaten fourth in the Epsom Oaks. Aidan O'Brien has won the last three editions of the Yorkshire Oaks and would look to make it a record tenth win here with Amelia Earhart. The filly improved a lot over the winter and was a stylish winner of the Cheshire Oaks in May, but was unable to land a blow in the Epsom Classic when last seen in action. Her stablemate Beautify would be a unique winner of this race as she raced over sprint trips only last year. Her first attempt at ten furlongs wasn't a bad one, so she could stretch her stamina out further to this distance. Another improving type who is moving up in distance is Roger Varian's Botagoz. The daughter of Mehmas remains unbeaten on the all-weather with her only defeat coming at York over a mile. She would have a question over her stamina based on her pedigree however. Yet another runner for the Aidan O'Brien stable would be Cameo, who looked to be a strong contender for the Oaks when successful at Lingfield in May. She weakened into fifth at Epsom, but has subsequently disappointed at a lower level. The Ballydoyle runners would keep on coming as Composing took her place in the line-up. She looked set for the top after winning three times last year, but her progress has stalled. Despite this, she didn't run too badly over this trip at Royal Ascot back in June. A fascinating runner here would be Concorde Agreement, who makes her debut for the Paddy Twomey yard in this contest. She has already shown high class form in France, winning twice and then second in the Prix Saint-Alary, so it will be interesting to see how she fares in Europe. Diamond Necklace has seen off all comers so far during her career and Aidan O'Brien's filly completed the French Guineas and Oaks double earlier this year, a rare feat for a foreign runner. The daughter of St Mark's Basilica will make her first start in Britain, but has looked to be one of the leading three year olds this season. Earth Shot has always been held in high regard by connections and William Haggas's three year old was a last gasp winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on what was just her fourth start. The O'Brien clan would be represented three-fold as Donnacha O'Brien saddled his filly Emmeleia. She is bred to appreciate this sort of distance and broke her maiden tag at the second attempt, but was brushed aside by the subsequent Oaks winner Thundering On when last seen in April. French-born trainer David Menuisier has made it no secret about the regard he holds Inis Mor in and after a listed race win at Goodwood, she would take third in the French Oaks to suggest she is capable at this level. Joseph O'Brien would also be represented by a three year old in the form of Johanna Walsh. The daughter of Sea The Stars has shown plenty of potential this year and was agonisingly touched off in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Legacy Link is a cousin of the great Frankel and looked a big talent in her own right by winning the Musidora Stakes here in May. John and Thady Gosden's filly ran an excellent race to take second in the Oaks, but found a race at Royal Ascot coming too soon afterwards when only seventh. Another promising youngster from the William Haggas stable would be Lilt, who showed plenty of staying power when getting up close home to win over a mile here, but could only manage a midfield spot in the French Oaks last time out. One of the total unknowns in the contest would be the unbeaten Rebel Moon from the Joseph O'Brien stable. The daughter of Lope de Vega made her debut as recently as April but has already made into a a classy sort after winning a Group Three at the end of June, defeating a useful type in the process. Another unbeaten Irish filly would come in the form of the master trainer Jim Bolger, who saddled Sparan Nua. The Dawn Approach filly won her first two starts with ease before stepping up in grade with ease by winning the Munster Oaks and this would be the next step on the ladder. The Classic form would also be represented by Aidan O'Brien's Sugar Island, who ran a lifetime best when third in the Epsom Oaks earlier this summer. A repeat of that effort would see her go well in this sort of company. Joseph O'Brien's brilliant year was capped by the emphatic success in the Epsom Oaks of Thundering On, who cantered to victory in the Classic. She wasn't at her best against older horses last time, but could easily bounce back here. The Yorkshire based yard of Charlie Johnston would be represented by their leading filly Venetian Lace. After a very promising third in the 1000 Guineas, she failed to fire in the Oaks, but is bred to enjoy this sort of distance.

Winner: