The Yorkshire Oaks. A Group one race over 1 mile and 4 furlongs at York.
This important race is run at York racecourses Ebor meeting.
The runners in the race have been reduced to 6 for today's running and given the prize money on offer it is perhaps a surprise that the race is not better supported.
All that said today's race is a fascinating one but should really be fought out between Dar Re Mi and Shariska
| Barshiba 5 9-7 D R C Elsworth |
| Dar Re Mi 4 9-7 J H M Gosden |
| Roman Empress 3 8-11 A P OŽBrien |
| SaphiraŽs Fire 4 9-7 W R Muir |
| Sariska 3 8-11 M L W Bell |
| Tamarind 3 8-11 A P OŽBrien |
Barshiba.
This Lancashire oaks winner has won 5 of her 25 starts. Barshiba is a good horse but when tried at group 1 level has been found wanting. Her most recent race was when 4th in the BLUE SQUARE NASSAU STAKES at Goodwood when she was staying on.
She would have to improve today to beat the front two but looks just below this class
Dar Re Mi
A previous group 1 winner this horse looks to have the credentials to win this race. A winner of 5 of her 12 races and she has never been out of the first three.
Dar Re Mi has won previously over this distance and has shown a liking for this course.
The ground is firming up all the time for this race and with the likely going being on the firm side of good she looks to have everything in her favor.
Roman Empress
6th in the Irish oaks behind Sariska and although that was not a by any means a disgrace she was 18 lengths behind the leader and it is difficult to see her turning around that form today.
She also ran in the group 1 pretty polly stakes at the Curragh where she finished 10 lengths behind Dar Re Mi.
It if difficult to give her any chance in this race.
Saphira's Fire
Lightly raced and therefore could have improvement in hand but on known form seems to have little chance.
Did run in the Lancashire oaks and was 6th 10 lengths behind today's rival Barshiba
Sariska
Hot favorite and a hot prospect indeed. Lightly raced and a winner of a british classic when taking the Oaks at Epsom in June. A winner of 4 of her 6 runs and with a win at this course she looks to have everything going for her today although she would prefer genuine good ground.
Tamarind
all her previous runs have been in Ireland and looks to be improving all the time. She would have to take a big step up on what we have seen so far to win this though but perhaps not impossible for her to run into a place should one of the big two fail.
The selection is Sariska
| 1st | Dar Re Mi | 9-7 | J H M Gosden | Jimmy Fortune | 11/2 |
| 2nd | Sariska | 8-11 | M L W Bell | Jamie Spencer | 4/11f |
| 3rd | Roman Empress (IRE) | 8-11 | A P O'Brien | J A Heffernan | 40/1 |
| 4th | Barshiba (IRE) | 9-7 | D R C Elsworth | Ryan Moore | 12/1 |
| 5th | Tamarind (IRE) | 8-11 | A P O'Brien | J Murtagh | 11/1 |
| 6th | Saphira's Fire (IRE) | 9-7 | W R Muir | Martin Dwyer | 50/1 |
Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1998 | Catchascatchcan | 3 | Kieren Fallon | Henry Cecil | 9th Baron Howard de Walden |
| 1999 | Ramruma | 3 | Pat Eddery | Henry Cecil | Prince Fahd bin Salman |
| 2000 | Petrushka | 3 | Johnny Murtagh | Sir Michael Stoute | Highclere Racing Ltd |
| 2001 | Super Tassa | 5 | Kevin Darley | Valfredo Valiani | Valfredo Valiani |
| 2002 | Islington | 3 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Exors of late Lord Weinstock |
| 2003 | Islington | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Exors of late Lord Weinstock |
| 2004 | Quiff | 3 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Khalid Abdullah |
| 2005 | Punctilious | 4 | Kerrin McEvoy | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin |
| 2006 | Alexandrova | 3 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | S. Magnier, M. Tabor, D. Smith |
| 2007 | Peeping Fawn | 3 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Michael Tabor and Sue Magnier |
| 2008 | Lush Lashes [1] | 3 | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Jackie Bolger |
