RACING: YORK REPORTBLUE BUNTING set herself up for a potential third Classic victory in the Ladbrokes St Leger after again demonstrating an iron will to win in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York yesterday.
The filly’s appetite for a battle has underpinned her season as she scrapped out the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and then the Irish Oaks. She would not succumb to the lengthy attentions of Vita Nova on the Knavesmire to finish on top by three-quarters of a length.
The ultimate decision as to whether she heads to Doncaster for an attempt at a Triple Crown of sorts rests with Sheikh Mohammed, but Simon Crisford, racing manager for the Godolphin team, gave encouraging indications as to her participation.
Blue Bunting, the 11 to 4 favourite, has only been beaten once this term when fourth in the Investec Oaks and was taking on older fillies and mares for the first time in the showpiece of the second afternoon of the Ebor meeting.
Frankie Dettori, who was to later take a nasty kick which ruled him out of the last race, surged to the front with a couple of furlongs remaining and almost invited Tom Queally and Vita Nova to join him, seeming confident enough his mount would enjoy the challenge – and it appeared that she did.
The St Leger sponsors offer her at 6 to 1 behind the 6 to 4 favourite Sea Moon, easy winner of Tuesday’s Great Voltigeur.
It was another terrific achievement for Godolphin’s new trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, while Dettori added: “She was in season today, so her mind wasn’t exactly on the job – she made it really hard work for me.
“She was just idling a little towards the end. It was a good battle with Tom but she just won the Guineas by a neck and won the Irish Oaks by a short-head so I knew if it was a dog fight that she would prevail.
“The Leger was suggested before the race and I am sure it will be discussed, but that’s up to Sheikh Mohammed. She would certainly stay – they could have gone for another mile and Vita Nova wouldn’t have got past.”
It was not to be yet another Group One for Vita Nova’s trainer Henry Cecil but a creditable effort from a lightly-raced filly who was a very unlucky loser in the Lancashire Oaks.
Epsom Oaks third Wonder Of Wonders, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was just under four lengths back in third.
Best Terms staked another strong claim to be the best juvenile sprint filly in Britain with a convincing success in the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes. Last seen winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Richard Hannon’s charge made all of the running to win by two lengths from the David Wachman-trained Fire Lily.