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| Staff Writer |
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Queen Of The Pride is set to fly the flag for her illustrious parents as she takes aim at Group One glory in Thursday's Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks at York. The Qatar Racing homebred, trained by John Gosden, will be bidding to emulate the top-level success achieved by both her sire Roaring Lion and dam Simple Verse.
Roaring Lion, also trained by Gosden, captured four Group One races during a stellar 2018 campaign, including a scintillating victory in the Gr.1 Juddmonte International over the Knavesmire. Meanwhile, the Ralph Beckett-trained Simple Verse clinched two elite-level triumphs in 2015, securing Classic honours in the Gr.1 St Leger before following up on Champions Day at Ascot.
Qatar Racing's racing manager David Redvers is relishing the opportunity: "It's everything we hope for in an organisation like this; to breed, raise and race horses at the highest level. This filly is the culmination of quite a few years' work and it's hugely exciting for all the team."
Unraced as a juvenile, Queen Of The Pride rounded off her three-year-old season with a low-key success at Leicester. However, she has taken her form to new heights this term, finishing second on her Goodwood return before landing the Gr.3 Pinnacle Stakes and the Gr.2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.
Jockey Oisin Murphy, who partnered both of Queen Of The Pride's parents to Group One success, is optimistic about her chances: "She's obviously stepping up in class again, but she's been really good since Haydock and she deserves her chance in a Group One. I sat out the back that day (in the Lancashire Oaks) and we went around the bend very steadily, but she won well and has an upward profile."
The Gosden team will also saddle proven top-notcher Emily Upjohn, who needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort as a hot favourite for Goodwood's Gr.1 Nassau Stakes three weeks ago.
The leading three-year-old contenders appear to be Beckett's You Got To Me and Aidan O'Brien's Content, who finished first and second in the Gr.1 Irish Oaks last month. Beckett is bullish about You Got To Me's chances, stating: "She is very well, and we've been very happy with her recent work. I think York is set up really well for her as a track, the timescale is good as well."
O'Brien's Content was supplemented for the race, having run two eye-catching races in her last two Group One outings. Jockey Ryan Moore is confident of further improvement: "She has progressed with every run and I think York will suit my filly. I'm looking forward to her."
The field is completed by Port Fairy (O'Brien), Mistral Star (Hughie Morrison), Lava Stream (David O'Meara), and Sea Theme (William Haggas). The latter, a course and distance winner in last year's Gr.3 Galtres Stakes, enters off the back of an impressive Listed success in France.
With a purse of US$565,000 (£445,000) up for grabs, the Yorkshire Oaks promises to be a thrilling contest as these talented fillies and mares vie for Group One glory on the Knavesmire.