Wootton Bassett’s Whirl Impresses In Musidora Stakes

Whirl (3f Wootton Bassett – Salsa, by Galileo) continued a fantastic run for Ballydoyle’s three-year-olds when running out an impressive winner of the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York.

A Group 3 winner over a mile as a juvenile, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly stepped up to ten furlongs for the first time on Wednesday and raced close to the pace throughout. The Coolmore homebred led three furlongs from home and began to draw clear approaching the final furlong, keeping on to score by five and a half lengths.

“I don't think Whirl is an Oaks filly,” Michael Tabor later reflected. “I think she'd probably get a mile and a half but a mile and a quarter in something like the Prix de Diane would be more suitable, I think. But I haven't discussed it with Derrick or John [Magnier] or Aidan. That's just my thinking."

Ryan Moore, meanwhile, commented: “She's by Wootton Bassett, so you can kind of do most things. She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip today.

“I thought she was impressive. She's very straightforward, she was always travelling nicely. She wasn't doing a whole lot in front but kept responding. I thought it was a nice performance.”