Aviate won well at Ascot in April under Tom Queally

Former champion trainer Henry Cecil claimed his ninth win in the Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday as Aviate produced a thrilling late surge to win.

The unbeaten filly (11-4) looked to be blocked in behind Gold Bubbles but flew to the line under jockey Eddie Ahern.

Cecil said he believes the daughter of Dansili looked well set to stay the trip in the Epsom Oaks on 4 June.

Gold Bubbles, a 20-1 chance, had to settle for second with Eleanora Duse third at 15-2 in the eight-runner race.

Cecil said: "We ran her to see if she stays but she's got a cross of Nijinsky on both the sire and dam side, so there was a bit of stamina there.

"I was hopeful she would (stay), otherwise I would have run in the race over a mile here later in the week.

"She's a nice filly but you couldn't see how good she was because she didn't get a clear run, what they should have done was spread out to let her come through - then we'd have seen what she really was!

"It is now a question of whether we go to the English Oaks or the French Oaks, or whether [stablemate] Timepiece goes to the Oaks or Ribblesdale or vice versa.

"I would like to say to the Prince [Khalid Abdullah] that I would run one here and one there rather than run two in the Oaks."

Musidora Stakes 1m 2f 88yds

1 Aviate 11-4
2 Gold Bubbles 20-1
3 Eleanora Duse 15-2

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