Trainer Henry Cecil (right) and jockey Tom Queally with Midday

Midday, trained by Henry Cecil, stormed to victory in a dramatic Yorkshire Oaks after her old rival and favourite Sariska refused to race.

Nassau Stakes winner Midday, under Tom Queally, took charge with two furlongs to go and crossed three lengths ahead.

This year's dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy was second with Sir Michael Stoute-trained Eleanora Duse third.

But the 9-4 favourite Sariska, trained by Michael Bell, refused to exit the stalls for jockey Jamie Spencer.

Winning jockey Queally said: "It's fair to say she's getting better as she gets older. They went a good pace and I was sort of waiting for Sariska to come.

"I wasn't aware Sariska was still in the stalls, I was keeping her up to her game as I thought she might be coming hard at the end.

"She settled very well and got the trip very well, if anything I got there going a bit too well.

"She's one hell of a filly and she's very special to me."

Cecil was hugely impressed by Midday's performance, with the filly showing her class to pull comfortably clear.

"That was a great performance. She was always going so well and she went and won the race, but then thought she'd done enough," said Cecil.

606: DEBATE Think Midday would have beat Sariska comfortably anyway Peter

"She was alone in front but found more. It was a real pity Sariska didn't race, but the second is a very good filly.

"I would say that's as good as she's ever been and it was her best ever run."

Sariska's trainer Michael Bell said he was disappointed by her behaviour.

"She was in the stalls for a long time and she is a little quirky, but not to that extent," said the Newmarket trainer.

"The filly's fine and as Jamie Spencer said, nobody's died."

Meanwhile, the next big decision for Cecil and owner Prince Khalid Abdullah is where to race Midday next after this victory.

"There's the Prix Vermeille, the Prix de l'Opera or the Breeders' Cup. I wouldn't have thought it would be the Arc and I don't think she'd run in all three," said Cecil.

"We're not trying to prove we're the best in the world, rather just the best filly.

"I knew today she was better than at Goodwood and time will tell if she can improve even further.

"The Breeders' Cup will suit her more this year as it is over a mile and three furlongs.

"I would love the Prince to be able to breed nice horses from her so we don't want to be too hard on her. If she can win another Group One that would be great."

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