After yesterday’s magnificent performance at York by Roaring Lion it was the fillies’ turn to light up the Knavesmire today as both Sea Of Class and Lah Ti Dar put themselves right into the firing line for some big end of season targets.
The William Haggas trained Sea Of Class was first up and she fairly routed the opposition in the Yorkshire Oaks, coming from last place as they entered York’s long straight to run away with the race and record a smooth two and a quarter length success.
Coming into the race she was the 7/4 favourite as support for Laurens suggested that it was no one horse event. In the end it was Sea Of Class who stayed strongest and thoughts immediately turned to Paris and the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe for which she is now 9/2 joint favourite with last year’s winner Enable.
It wasn’t long before the performance the large Yorkshire crowd were treated to another jaw-dropping display as John Gosden’s lightly raced three year old filly Lah Ti Dar returned after a long break to record a convincing ten length win in the Galtres Stakes. Lah Ti Dar took up the running some way out and careered clear, the result never looking in doubt. The race was run over the same mile and a half distance as the earlier Yorkshire Oaks but Lah Ti Dar’s time was around three quarters of a second slower than that recorded by Sea Of Class, suggesting that she may still have to improve if she is to take that filly on in the future.
Connections nominated the St. Leger as a possible next target for Lah Ti Dar after trainer John Gosden said jockey Frankie Dettori had been ‘emphatic’ that the Doncaster race should be her next run. She’s been installed 2/1 favourite for that and, although it is over an additional two furlongs, such is her style of racing that she looks as though she will stay the extra distance well.
