RACING:ALAIN DE Royer-Dupre took a second British fillies' Group One of the season back to France after Shareta fought her way through a rainstorm in yesterday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
It has become increasingly recognised in recent years that the relaxed Chantilly trainer rarely brings runners across the Channel without believing they are candidates for victory and Shareta was up to the task as she held off a sustained effort from The Fugue by a neck.
A little more was known about De Royer-Dupre’s latest challenge than Giofra, who collected the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July, as she was second behind Germany’s finest export Danedream in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Taking on a field of largely younger fillies will have made a refreshing change for Shareta after she was beaten by Andre Fabre’s Arc hope Meandre in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and her handler believed the wide expanse of the Knavesmire gave him even more cause for optimism.
An earlier shower had seen a marked deterioration in the ground, which saw Shareta supported into 2 to 1 and The Fugue, who is regularly described by trainer John Gosden as having the feet of a ballerina, sent off an uneasy 7 to 4 favourite.
However, The Fugue had shown an appreciation for York in the Musidora Stakes and she cut into the lead shared by Was and Shareta, whittling the candidates for victory down to two with a furlong remaining.
Christophe Lemaire had the assistance of the stands rail for the Gallic raider and just managed to repel the year-younger The Fugue through weather to dampen the spirits of even the hardiest of ladies’ day racegoers.
It is not an event in which the French have any recent history, but De Royer-Dupre noted with interest that another of the Aga Khan family’s operation had provided the winner of the 1959 renewal in Petite Etoile.
Shareta would not be in the same league as Noel Murless’ multiple Group One heroine, but he said: “We came because the filly was in very good condition and because this is a marvellous track.
“I know she stays. Many times in France the straight is much too short and she doesn’t have time to show what she can do.”
Looking further ahead, he said: “We have the Prix Vermeille to think of that is just for fillies and possibly the Arc, although it depends on the ground, and if it gets soft she doesn’t like it.
“I think she will be retired at the end of the season.”
A win for The Fugue would have seen Gosden pass Aidan O’Brien at the head of the British trainers’ championship, but at least she finished a length and three-quarters ahead of his rival’s Was, who had taken the Investec Oaks when the eventual third had appeared most unlucky.
Dermot Weld saddled his second winner on the Knavesmire in successive days when the lightly-raced Pale Mimosa (9 to 4) ran out a game winner of the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Galtres Stakes.
Having just her third start, Pat Smullen brought her down the centre of the track and pulled two and a quarter lengths clear of Sequence.
“It was a terrific performance. We’ve been waiting for a bit of decent ground for her,” said Weld. “I was a bit worried when the rain came, but it didn’t get into the ground.
“Today was the day, really, as Dr Lambe (owner) likes to have a winner at York. She’s a filly with a big future and we will look at races like the Park Hill (at Doncaster) for her.”
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