Quality field of six declared for Tattersalls Musidora Stakes

SMOKEN heads a quality field of six runners in this year’s Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York’s Dante Meeting, live on Racing TV. 

Purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 190,000 guineas by Jamie McCalmont Bloodstock from Longview Stud, the daughter of Too Darn Hot is undefeated in two starts for owners Andrew Rosen, Marc Chan and Mrs Sonia Rogers including the Listed Montrose Stakes at Newmarket last November.

Trainer Ralph Beckett sounds positive as her seasonal return looms, telling Tattersalls: “Smoken has trained well this Spring, she’s ready to go and we’re looking forward to getting her started. She should improve from the run.”

Beckett will be dually represented in the race as TATTYCORAM takes her chance for owner-breeders Chasemore Farm. The Camelot filly will line up fresh from her decisive Novice victory at Sandown just two weeks ago. 

Trainer Andrew Balding was victorious in last year’s renewal of the Tattersalls Musidora and will be looking for back-to-back success with SERENITY PRAYER who looks an intriguing runner following her impressive winning debut in a competitive maiden at Newbury last month. The daughter of Dubawi, out of the Group 3 winning Galileo mare Peach Tree is owned and bred by Westerberg. 

Commenting on his Musidora challenger Balding said: “She’s a beautifully bred filly and we were delighted with her on debut when she made her winning start. She’s entitled to improve on that form, but obviously she’ll need to do so in a much stronger race. We’ve been very happy with her and I’m hoping she can run really well.”

The John and Thady Gosden stable have a stellar record in this contest with five winners in the last decade. Their representative GO GO BOOTS bids to add to the stable’s impressive Musidora tally as well as her own unbeaten record in two starts - the latest a victory by three lengths in a Lingfield Novice for owner and well-known celebrity chef, Bobby Flay. 

Thady Gosden said: “Go Go Boots has made good progress since winning under a penalty last time out. We’re looking forward to a first run on turf in a small, but competitive renewal of the Tattersalls Musidora.”

WHIRL, the only Group winner in the field will be the sole Irish challenger for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The daughter of Wootton Bassett topped off her juvenile season by claiming the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh last October. She will bid to continue the dominant form shown by her Ballydoyle stablemates in the Classic trials this Spring. 

MISS TONNERRE will complete the field on seasonal return for Lambourn trainer, Ed Walker. The filly was a winner on debut before finishing a close fourth to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes. The daughter of Night Of Thunder was a 300,000 guineas purchase at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Norris/Huntingdon on behalf of John Pearce Racing Ltd, having been consigned by Ballyhimkin Stud.

The next sale to take place at Tattersalls’ Park Paddocks in Newmarket is the Tattersalls July Sale, a source of Group 1 producers and performers on the global stage taking place from the 8th - 11th July.

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