Ebor Festival, York
Date: Tuesday 18 - Friday 21 August
Coverage: Commentary of all the main races on BBC Radio 5 Live and via the 5 Live website (UK users only) More racing coverage details
 Dar Re Mi held off the challenge of Sariska in the Yorkshire Oaks |
Dar Re Mi pulled off a major coup when she beat dual Oaks-winning filly Sariska to clinch the Yorkshire Oaks on day three of the Ebor Festival at York. The John Gosden-trained filly held off her younger rival, the 4-11 favourite, to win by three-quarters of a length. Dar Re Mi, owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and ridden by Jimmy Fortune, led from three out and the Epsom and Irish Oaks winner was unable to catch up. Roman Empress, trained by Aiden O'Brien, came in third. Barshiba made the early running with the winner and Sariska sat in fourth and fifth.  | Obviously we hoped she would win by three lengths and be favourite for the Arc but all credit to the winner Sariska's trainer Michael Bell |
In the home straight Fortune asked his four-year-old, a Group One winner in her own right, to quicken but Sariska was unable to respond under Jamie Spencer. "We got beat, she wasn't fast enough on the day, no excuses. You come here, you do your best, but she ran into a good horse," said Spencer. Gosden said: "It was a perfect race in that Ryan Moore's filly (Barshiba) is very strong and she set a good pace. "The older filly has beaten the younger filly. We're giving her 10lbs but it's the first time Sariska has met older fillies and, let's be honest, if we're not in the race she's the winner of three Oaks in a row. "We're going for the Prix Vermeille and if she runs a big one there we'll think about something mad like the Arc." Bell was philosophical in defeat, saying: "It's not the end of the world. | 606: DEBATE |
"Obviously we hoped she would win by three lengths and be favourite for the Arc but all credit to the winner - don't forget she's a Group One winner and she's an older, stronger horse. "Jamie said there were no excuses really but on easier ground, she could play to her strengths more and when conditions are right for her, she's a beast. "We never had any real doubts about running her and as I said, there were no excuses, she's been beaten by a Group One winner and that's racing." In the Group 2 Lowther Stakes for fillies, the Brian Meehan-trained 13-8 favourite Lady of the Desert romped home from Beyond Desire and Dubawi Heights. "To be honest, when I jumped out of the gates I thought, 'I've won this'," said winning jockey Martin Dwyer. "I was easing her down at the finish, too. There's plenty more to come. She's a pretty good filly."
Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies' Group 1)
1. Dar Re Mi (J Fortune) 11-2
2. Sariska (J Spencer) 4-11F
3. Roman Empress (JA Heffernan) 40-1 6 ran. Dist: ¾l, 1½l Lowther Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
1. Lady of the Desert (M Dwyer) 13-8F
2. Beyond Desire (N Callan) 10-3
3. Dubawi Heights (J Murtagh) 40-1 12 ran. Dist: ¾l
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