Group 1 winner and King George runner-up Bluestocking is one of ten who remain in the Yorkshire Oaks, the feature race at York’s Ebor meeting next Thursday, 22nd August. The Juddmonte-owned filly has shot to new heights this season and is being talked of as a potential Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe candidate; this race was used as a springboard by Alpinista before she won the Arc two years ago.
This race has generally been the domain of Aidan O’Brien though, with the master of Ballydoyle sending out five winners in the last decade. All of those have been three-year-olds, and his two prospective representatives this year are both of the Classic generation in Content, runner-up in the Irish Oaks, and Royal Ascot winner Port Fairy. The former was comfortably ahead of the latter at the Curragh last time out, though both trailed in the wake of You Got To Me, stablemate of Bluestocking, who etched her name into the Classic’s roll of honour.
Like Ralph Beckett and O’Brien, the Gosdens still have a duo in the race with the out-of-form Emily Upjohn joined by the year younger Queen Of The Pride. Unlike her neighbour, the latter is on an upward trajectory and would be seeking a hat-trick of wins if taking part in this race.
Dermot Weld may join O’Brien in sending over a challenger from Ireland. Sumiha has only had four starts despite being four years old but claimed Group 3 honours last time out. Both Mistral Star and Sea Theme would arrive here off the back of victories too, at Listed level, while bringing up the ten potentials is David O’Meara’s Lava Stream, second to Port Fairy in Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes.
Yorkshire Oaks 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Bluestocking | Ralph Beckett |
| 2 | Emily Upjohn | John & Thady Gosden |
| 3 | Mistral Star | Hughie Morrison |
| 4 | Queen Of The Pride | John & Thady Gosden |
| 5 | Sea Theme | William Haggas |
| 6 | Sumiha | Dermot Weld |
| 7 | Content | Aidan O’Brien |
| 8 | Lava Stream | David O’Meara |
| 9 | Port Fairy | Aidan O’Brien |
| 10 | You Got To Me | Ralph Beckett |