York 17.5.23Soul Sister © Edward Whitaker/Racing Post PhotosEurope

Soul Sister heads to Epsom

Frankel filly Soul Sister made a superb impression winning the Gr.3 Musidora Stakes at York today.

Taken from the Racing Post, 17th May 2023, by James Burn:

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel races in the colours of her breeder Lady Bamford and travelled sweetly before scooting clear. Paddy Power and Betfair make her 4-1 (from 50) for the Oaks.

The three-year-old won a Doncaster maiden by a head in October and headed to the race known as the Fred Darling at Newbury last month, but was last of 12. She put that disappointing display right behind her in the Musidora, which is considered one of the best Oaks trials. Soul Sister was too good for Novakai, who finished second, one place ahead of Infinite Cosmos, the 15-8 favourite.

Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said: "I would say the trip was too short at Newbury and the ground too soft, and it was a period when John and Thady's horses needed the run. She did everything I wished - travelled and quickened twice - and it was a very good performance. This race challenges them, but she did everything I wanted and I'm very happy."

The Oaks, run on 2nd June, is a race Dettori has won six times, most recently in 2021 on Snowfall, who also landed the Musidora. Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance is the general 6-4 Oaks favourite, but Soul Sister is now clear second favourite.

John Gosden, a three-time winner of the Oaks, was also impressed. He said: "We liked her a lot when she won at Doncaster and then I ran her below her trip in the Fred Darling. The ground was bottomless and she hated it, but she had an outing that day and what you might term a nice piece of work."

"She'd trained well for this and I was keen to run her, while Lady Bamford told me to go ahead. We're thrilled. I expected a big run, but didn't expect her to win by four lengths."

"We'll head absolutely to Epsom now."