Ralph Beckett has strong challenge lined up for Yorkshire Oaks
Bluestocking ridden by Rob Hornby - Aug 2022
Ralph Beckett's highly-rated duo You Got To Me and Bluestocking are among the confirmations for the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks at next week's Ebor Festival.
While Bluestocking remains in the mix for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York, Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me is firmly on course for the mile-and-a-half event as she bids to add to her Curragh Classic success.
Beckett indicated a final call on which race Bluestocking runs in will be made over the weekend.
“A decision will be made over the weekend about Bluestocking’s participation, where she goes. Obviously, she is in the Juddmonte International as well. So, we are going to have a discussion this weekend and make a final decision on that,” he said.
The Curragh was the first time You Got To Me – who is jointly-owned by Valmont and Newsells Park Stud – had struck at the highest level, but connections are confident she has now earned her spot at the top table with the Knavesmire Group One an obvious next port of call.
“It’s nice when you can pinpoint a race from way out and train towards it,” said Alex Elliott, Valmont’s racing adviser.
“I think she is pleasing Ralph and the team very much and it looks a very warm contest.
“It will be interesting to see where Ralph and Juddmonte go with Bluestocking, and Aidan O’Brien is going to run Content who we beat in Ireland.
“I think we are going there in hopefully good shape and can hopefully be competitive. I think (a lot will depend) if we can get her to do it properly again and pace is important. We got that in Ireland and it would help us if we could get that again, but it is never guaranteed.
“However, I think the filly is exactly where we want her at this stage.”
Group One regular Emily Upjohn and the rapidly-improving Queen Of The Pride give John and Thady Gosden two chances in a race the Clarehaven team won five years ago with Enable.
Aidan O’Brien has supplemented Irish Oaks runner-up Content to join Port Fairy as he seeks his fourth race victory in five years.
Another possible Irish raider is Dermot Weld’s progressive Munster Oaks scorer Sumiha, while David O’Meara’s Lava Stream struggled when set a Classic challenge at the Curragh most recently but before that was a narrow second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
William Haggas’ Sea Theme won the Galtres Stakes and could return to York having impressed at Listed level in France last month, with Hughie Morrison’s Minstral Star also remaining in the hunt.
