Musidora Stakes Preview: Gosden's Can Go In Again

The big race at York on Wednesday is one of the most prominent Oaks Trials of the year in the Musidora Stakes. As can be seen in the below embedded tweet, there is nowhere better for potential middle distance Classic fillies to take their final preparation and there could be stars aplenty on the Knavesmire. Billy Grimshaw is siding with the favourite and below explains why...
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Some savvy punters - not me, unfortunately - noticed John Gosden's brilliant record in this race before the 2023 renewal and backed the outsider of the field Soul Sister for this at big odds and also to win at Epsom a few weeks later at triple figures. They were rewarded handsomely as she brilliantly took out this trial before outclassing Savethelastdance in the big one at Epsom and now history could be set to repeat itself, albeit with the odds looking much different.
In 2024 John and Thady Gosden bring another regally bred filly to York, but FRIENDLY SOUL is odds-on unlike Soul Sister last season. She certainly comes into the race with better credentials, with her Pretty Polly win last time out blowing me and countless others away. She could well be the next star filly out of Clarehaven and for all there are plenty in here with the pedigree to be top class, I cannot forget what I saw at Newmarket last time and have to side with her even at the prices.
Kingman was one of the best horses to watch charge up the turbo as his races developed and he seems to have passed that ability onto his daughter Friendly Soul judging by the way in which she kicked into overdrive on just her second start to claim the aforementioned Pretty Polly ten days ago. I loved what I saw there and think it'll take an almighty smart filly to beat her here.
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The odds compilers seem to think the filly most likely to be just that is the Rossa Ryan ridden Classical Song for Ralph Beckett. She is a general 4/1 shot at the time of writing and although she could not reel in Ylang Ylang last time out in October of last year, she is bred to improve both at three and over further so could well be a good one for a yard who won another Oaks trial at Chester with Forest Fairy just last week.
I'd be more keen on Sinology at triple the price if I had to take on the favourite as her Newbury maiden win last time out came when David Simcock's horse looked like she could well need the run. She is out of a Musidora winner and looks underestimated by the odds compilers.
Secret Satire for Andrew Balding was only third last time out on her seasonal bow, although that was a decent enough effort considering she was penalised and if she take a good step forward here she could be in the mix, while the other Ralph Beckett runner La Pasionaria looks to have it all to do on her eighth placed finish last time out.
Charlie Johnston's Southwell winner last time out Francophone is another who needs to step up but could well be suited by a switch to turf, while the sole maiden is Ballydoyle entrant Mayfair. She would be double the price if from a less powerful yard, but does have Ryan Moore in the saddle which always helps and is bred to improve markedly both at three and for this step up - as a lot of them are. It could be pertinent to remember Snowfall, who won this and The Oaks so well in 2021, came into this race as a maiden from Ballydoyle so fi she is well backed that could be a tip in itself.
Nevertheless, I'm on team Gosden here once more.