Olivier Peslier will take the plum ride on Ed Dunlop’s Snow Fairy in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks.
The four-year-old chased home Midday in the Knavesmire Group One 12 months ago and was again left chasing Sir Henry Cecil’s star mare’s shadow in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last month.
“We have decided to stick with her own sex, and Snow Fairy will head north in top form,” the Newmarket trainer told his website.
“She ran a terrific race against Midday in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and seems to have improved again judged on her work at home since.
“They have had no rain at York since the one millimetre that fell on Friday night, but the ground is still on the easy side of good, and, with a favourable forecast, it can only improve as the week goes on.
“Hopefully, Snow Fairy will get the going she loves best.
“Obviously, it is a relief not having Midday standing in our way again, but there is still an Irish Oaks winner in the field in Blue Bunting, not to mention Crystal Capella and whatever Aidan (O’Brien) decides to send, so we are under no illusions about the task we face.”
Ryan Moore guided the filly to her four Group One victories in 2010 but he has been unavailable for her two starts this season and is now on the sidelines with injury.
Johnny Murtagh and Frankie Dettori have been the men called up to take the reins but Frenchman Peslier is the next man in line.
“With Ryan Moore out through injury we were again looking for a jockey, but I am delighted that we have got Olivier, who rode Native Khan for us in the 2000 Guineas and also won on Ouija Board at Royal Ascot (Prince of Wales’s Stakes) back in 2006,” Dunlop said.
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