Class came to the fore in the BetMGM Winter Oaks at Lingfield Park as top weight Morrophore denied Sky Safari under a power-packed ride from Ryan Moore.
Morrophore had two lengths to make up on Sky Safari with a furlong to go but Moore never looked flustered as he galvanised his mount to get up and win by a head.
Trained by John & Thady Gosden, Morrophore becomes the fourth filly or mare to complete the Winter Oaks Trial-Winter Oaks double after Al Agaila, Oh So Grand and Charlotte’s Web.
George Strawbridge’s five-year-old daughter of Kingman has a revised rating of 105 and could make her mark in Stakes company before retiring to stud.
Moore said: “Morrophore won the Winter Oaks Trial here nicely. She was drawn wide that day, whereas today she had a nice draw and I was able to ride her closer to the pace.
“She has won off a mark of 101 there and put her head down when I needed her. It was a gutsy performance. She is clearly in good shape and I would not put it past her to improve again.”
The jockey had been in the winner’s enclosure 35 minutes earlier with Completely Random, who outclassed his opponents in a six-furlong handicap. Trained by Harry Charlton, the five-year-old has gone up 9lb to 102 and needs one more run to qualify for Finals Day.
Elsewhere, the Kevin Philippart de Foy-trained Shiplake has earned a crack at a better race after cruising to victory in a seven-furlong handicap at Southwell. A winner at the track in November, he has been raised 17lb to 92 across both starts.
In addition, Amo Racing has a live contender for the Marathon final following Bryant’s comfortable success in a two-mile conditions race at Dundalk. Trained by Robson de Aguair, the 91-rated four-year-old is now two for two over the trip and will head straight to Newcastle.
Stablemate Carolina Jetstream backed up some strong recent efforts as she made all in a seven-furlong conditions race on the same Dundalk card. The daughter of Pinatubo chased home Stephen Thorne’s Instant Appeal on her penultimate start, with the duo set to meet again in the Mile final.
Stateira put down a marker for the Filly & Mare final at Newcastle last week and her trainer Andrew Balding may have another contender for the seven-furlong contest in All Moonshine. Kirsten Rausing’s homebred scored under a penalty in a Wolverhampton novice and could have more to offer in handicaps from a mark of 80.
