Musidora mission could secure Oaks ticket for Siyola

Adam Morgan
May 7, 2024 11:38 am

Impressive Sandown winner set for test of Classic credentials at York.

Siyola appears poised to put her Oaks credentials to the test in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes following what was a taking debut at Sandown recently.

Held in high regard by trainers John and Thady Gosden, the regally-bred Juddmonte-owned filly did not make the track as a two-year-old, but made up for lost time when accounting for useful stablemate Beeley on her Esher bow.

That Sandown novice event was previously won by Clarehaven’s Emily Upjohn before marching on to Musidora success at York and Siyola looks likely to follow suit and attempt to enhance the stable’s excellent recent record in the 10 furlong Group Three contest.

Smart debut 👀
Siyola finishes her race off strongly to lead home a 1-2 for the John and @thadygosden team in the fillies’ novice stakes, a race the stable won last year with subsequent Group 1 scorer Emily Upjohn. @bet365 | @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/z5NqksXmZs
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2024

“She looked a nice filly and she’s a very well-bred, good-looking filly,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“She took a little bit of time to come to hand and I think John and Thady have been pretty sweet on her for quite a while.

“At the back of our minds we are thinking to go to York for the Musidora.”

Siyola was not entered for the Oaks by connections, who were initially inclined to aim elsewhere, but her victory at Sandown earned the daughter of Siyouni an automatic berth in the Epsom Classic, with her Knavesmire showing set to determine if she is up for the challenge of the Surrey Downs.

Siyola with William Buick (John Walton/PA)

“We weren’t in the Oaks and initially you are thinking we’re not in it so we don’t have to point that way,” continued Mahon.

“But we have the ‘win and you’re in’ now and she needs to run again, so it makes logical sense to go to the Musidora and we will find out if we’re good enough to hold that engagement.”

The Juddmonte team and the Gosdens may have been celebrating together with Siyola, but Clarehaven proved to be the owners’ nemesis in Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes on Sunday where Kalpana suffered a narrow reversal at the hands of the Gosden-trained Friendly Soul.

The duo fought out a terrific finish to the 10-furlong Listed event, with the Andrew Balding-trained three-year-old losing little in defeat.

Kalpana has produced some fine performances so far (Bradley Collyer/PA)

It was a performance that proved her previous wide-margin Newmarket win was no fluke and with her only other defeat coming at the hands of 2000 Guineas sixth Inisherin, Kalpana will now be freshened up ahead of a possible tilt at the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“I would say her and the winner looked two very good fillies to pull 12 lengths clear of the third and to win her race by 10 lengths the last day indicates she has a good level of ability,” continued Mahon.

“She’s exciting and we’ll discuss plans over the next 10 days, but we will probably wait for the Ribblesdale at Ascot I would imagine, that would be the initial plans we were thinking.

“She’s had four runs since January and has to have a break at some stage and this would seem a logical time.”