Silkwood hoping for drier ground for Oaks test
Michael Jarvis is hoping the ground dries out to help Silkwood’s cause in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York tomorrow.
Things have not gone smoothly for the filly, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, since she won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
First she had a virus and then she missed the Irish Oaks because the ground was too soft.
However, she is in top form again and all her Newmarket trainer wants now is for suitable conditions.
“She seems fine and is in good order,” said Jarvis.
“She wasn’t very well after the Ribbledsale. She had a bit of a virus, a bit of mucus in her throat, so we had to clear that up.
“It was too soft to run her in the Irish Oaks so we’ve had to wait for this race.
“It will be interesting to see how the course rides on Tuesday, but we could do with it drying out a bit for her.”
The lightly-raced daughter of Singspiel faces a tough task, most notably against Peeping Fawn.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge is seeking a four-timer at the highest level after wins in the Pretty Polly Stakes, Irish Oaks and Nassau Stakes.
However, her stablemate, last year’s winner Alexandrova, will not be making the journey over from Ireland.
“She was a bit tight after her canter on Monday morning so she’s not going to run tomorrow. It’s only a little thing, but there’s no point taking a chance with her,” O’Brien told Channel 4 Racing.
Ryan Moore believes Allegretto deserves her place, although it will be the first time she has tackled a mile and a half since she finished third in this race 12 months ago.
Moore said: “Obviously stepping back in trip could be against her, but she was third in the race last year and she wasn’t beaten far by Alexandrova then.
“She has won three Group Two’s now and where else can we run her? I think she’ll run well again,” the jockey told At The Races.
By contrast, Darrfonah goes up to this distance after winning over 10 furlongs on her latest start.
The Clive Brittain-trained filly was well beaten in the Vodafone Oaks on her only previous attempt at the extra quarter-mile.
Rabbah bloodstock racing director Bruce Raymond said on behalf of owner Saeed Manana: “Clive has been taking his time with her.
“If she stays the mile and a half, then she has a chance of making the frame,” he told www.rabbah.co.uk.
Trick Or Treat’s trainer James Given is realistic about his filly’s chances.
“I think it’s an interesting race, but the reality is we are probably playing for place black type,” he said.
“If you look at the ratings you have got Peeping Fawn and Silkwood clear, there’s a question mark about Allegretto dropping back to a mile and a half but obviously she’s a quality horse.
“Then you’ve got the other four quite evenly matched.
“We are going for a Group One place, but we have to perform and so does everyone else.
“It does look like a race of two halves and we hopefully are going to win in the second division.
“She’s in very good order and she’s very versatile about ground. She won on firm at Haydock earlier in the year and she’d won on soft previously.”
