Unusually this year, there's been intense interest in whether or not the two leading fancies for the G1 Investec Oaks, Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), will instead take on the colts in the following day's G1 Investec Derby.
Having posted an impressive victory in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York on Wednesday, it now seems likely that Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's homebred So Mi Dar will stick to competing against her own sex in the immediate future, despite the fact that she holds a Derby entry following her triumph in the 'win-and-you're-in' Investec Derby Trial at Epsom on April 20.
With the final decision on So Mi Dar's Derby participation still to be taken, Simon Marsh, who manages the Lloyd Webbers' Watership Down Stud, commented, “She will, I am sure, go for the Oaks. I think the race has set itself up well, but both fillies have got to get there on the day. If they both run their races, it will be very interesting.”
He continued, “It was great the way that she travelled at York and how she handled the ground. She quickened up very readily and she looks like she will stay a mile and a half. She is a very exciting filly to have.”
So Mi Dar is the second foal of the treble group 1 victrix Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), whose wins included the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Her first foal, De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), is a dual winner and was placed four times in group 3 company for Andre Fabre before joining the stable of John Shirreffs in America. Dar Re Mi's colt from the first crop of Frankel (GB) was bought at last year's Tattersalls October Sale for 750,000gns by Al Shaqab Racing.
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