Yorkshire Oaks: Minnie Hauk is favored in Breeders' Cup qualifier

Dual classic-winning heroine Minnie Hauk has been declared to take on Yorkshire-based Estrange in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday at York Racecourse. The 1 1/4-mile event for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, offers an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

 

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Minnie Hauk comes off a 1 1/4-length victory in the Irish Oaks (G1) in July at The Curragh, completing the English-Irish Classic double, having won the Epsom Oaks (G1) the month prior.

 

The daughter of Frankel showed her true class when sustaining a duel in the closing stages of the Epsom Oaks to eventually beat stablemate Whirl by a neck. This form has been heavily boosted with Whirl going on to win the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at The Curragh before winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood,  claiming an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

 

“Everything has gone well, we think the track will suit her,” O’Brien said of Minnie Hauk.

 

The odds-on favorite, Minnie Hauk will take on Cheveley Park Stud’s Estrange, who is from the same ownership that enjoyed success in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2023 with Inspiral. This will be the Yorkshire raider’s first Group 1 contest, stepping up in class after winning the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (G3) and the Lancashire Oaks (G2) at Haydock in impressive fashion earlier this season.

 

But trainer David O’Meara has concerns for the ground. “Good to firm will be no good for her,” he said. “I’d be almost certain she wouldn’t run on quick ground.”

 

With the going currently good to firm at York, the team will be hoping for rain ahead of Thursday to suit their contender.

 

Trainer Ed Walker has declared Qilin Queen after an impressive win in the Cygames Prix de Malleret (G2) at ParisLongchamp in July, having finished eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Epsom Oaks in June. Kieran Shoemark has been booked for the ride after success in France and, with a small field, is keen on her chances.

 

“She needs top of the ground, which she looks like getting at York and it’s a good opportunity for her to get Group 1 black type, I suppose with Minnie Hauk, who is odds-on favorite,” Shoemark said. “Fair play to Ed and the owners for taking the chance.

 

Garden of Eden completes the field of four. The 3-year-old daughter of Saxon Warrior last was seen finishing ninth in the German Oaks earlier this month after winning the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June on good to firm ground.