The Fugue strikes winning note in Yorkshire Oaks

Lord Lloyd-Webber's The Fugue, undone by York's heavy rain showers when

runner-up in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks a year ago, atoned for a rare

disappointing unplaced effort last time in the Eclipse to turn Thursday's

Yorkshire Oaks into a procession.

Always traveling with her customary verve under a confident William Buick,

the homebred bay, who started as the 2-1 favorite, was unextended to overhaul

Venus de Milo approaching the furlong pole before surging clear under hand

riding to score by four lengths in the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event.

"Everybody at home has had so much confidence in her and she showed today how

good she is," Buick said. "She loves this ground, saw the trip out really well

and was awesome today."

Despite the ground reading officially good-to-firm for this race 12 months

ago, the effect of the thunderstorm was sufficient to swing conditions in favor

of the French raider Shareta and The Fugue was denied the chance to follow up

her Nassau success by a neck. Trouble in running had arguably denied her a

classic win in the Epsom Oaks and also a Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, in

which she was caged up on the rail at a crucial stage, but connections were

determined to return at four and put matters straight.

Third on her return in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot June 19, she

reportedly returned sick after finishing last of the seven that contested

Sandown's Eclipse last time July 6 but the signs were strong that she was back

on song for this as the market support spoke volumes.

Taken back early several lengths off the pace set by the positively-ridden

Scintillula, The Fugue traveled with the elan that characterized her winning

performance in last year's Musidora at this venue, and by the time she reached

midstretch, clearly had the measure of Venus de Milo ahead. Coaxed past the

Ballydoyle challenger with the final furlong to cover, she was quickly beyond

reach to add another edition to her owner-breeder's roster following the

exploits of Dar Re Mi in 2009.

"She's done well to come back after being so ill after the Eclipse," trainer

John Gosden commented. "I thought she would really get to the colts that day and

give them a race and it is a testament to her that she has come back, as she

scoped with a horrible mucus in her and it flattened her considerably for two

weeks. She has proven that she is tough and mentally strong and shown

resilience.

"Last year, William kicked and looked to have won the race, but got nailed by

Shareta so I told him to wait today. She likes this flat, galloping track and

top-of-the-ground and outsprinted them. She has been unlucky in previous races,

but that happens and she is obviously the best of the elders.

"I would consider the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1 at Longchamp October

6) if the ground is good or good-to-soft, but not if it's bottomless, and then

there is the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year."

Also at York, the once-beaten Lucky Kristale added the Lowther Stakes to her

burgeoning resume.

Following successes in a maiden on Newmarket's Rowley Mile May 16 and a

conditions event at Yarmouth 12 days later, Lucky Kristale was one of a clutch

of smart fillies treated as mere flotsam in the wake of Kiyoshi in Royal Ascot's

Albany Stakes June 21. The bay rebounded from that spanking to take the Duchess

of Cambridge at Newmarket last time July 12 and made light of a subsequent

penalty in this Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Settled in rear early by Tom Queally while racing among the stand's-side

group, she found a turn of acceleration which her rivals lacked and, after

swooping on the lead just before the furlong pole, stretched away to score

comfortably.

"She was supposed to go for the Prix Morny, but despite working really well

she choked and her scope was dirty but we caught it early," reported trainer

George Margarson. "She hadn't galloped for 10 days, so we were pushing it a bit.

"She would miss the bus if you didn't ask her, but you wouldn't get past here

in a queue when she's woken up and she'll get the mile in the Guineas. There is

a lot of improvement in her and I don't think I've got to the bottom of her.

"She'll go straight to the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1 at Newmarket

September 28). Tom says the further she goes the better she'll get and that

seven furlongs or a mile will be no problem, but she has so much toe, we might

as well use that over six.

"I am as excited with her as I was with my best horse, Barathea Guest, and he

still has the edge in my heart and I've ridden horses like Gunner B and Katies

when I was with Mick Ryan, so I know a good one when I've got one."

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