'This has been the plan for some time' - Qatar Racing excited by Yorkshire Oaks bid for Queen Of The Pride
![Queen Of The Pride (right) holds on to win the the Group 3 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F90c7dc1763e6-queen.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
David Redvers expects a big run from Queen Of The Pride in Thursday's Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (3.35), with the racing manager to the powerful Qatar Racing operation warning that despite her only rising to prominence in the last few months "this has been the plan for some time".
The mile and a half Group 1 may have a theme in that it could play host to two rematches from top-level contests at the Curragh – with Pretty Polly one-two Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn and You Got To Me and Content, the first and second from the Irish Oaks – with the last mentioned supplemented to inflate the remaining possible runners at Friday's forfeit stage to ten.
And yet it is the progressive filly stepping up to that level, after a Listed second and then Group 3 and Group 2 wins at Haydock, who sits second in the ante-post market at 11-2 behind only Bluestocking.
Asked about her chance in one of the most prestigious weight-for-age fillies Group 1s of the season, Redvers said: "It's very much the plan. She's having a fantastic season and we're very excited about her, it's lovely.
"This has been the plan for some time and the trainer is stood besides me telling me he's very happy with her. We've always thought she was a very nice filly and she's out of a St Leger winner. She was one of the best mares, if not the best, to go to Roaring Lion so it's what we always hoped for."
![Bluestocking and Rossa Ryan winning the Gr.1 Pretty Polly Stakes from Emily Upjohn. The Curragh. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post 29.06.2024](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fa0d2c48eae32-horse-racing-bluestocking-wins-pretty-polly.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Bluestocking remains in contention for the Ebor festival's day two highlight. The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old is also entered in the Juddmonte International Stakes a day earlier, a race sponsored by her owners, and connections have mentioned the shorter race is under consideration.
Despite that the market very much expects her to show up in the Yorkshire Oaks as she remains rock-solid at the head of the market at 6-4 and is a best-priced 20-1 for the International.
Beckett could also be represented with Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me, with the runner-up that day, Content, supplemented and set to run alongside Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
The impressive Queen Mary Stakes victor Leovanni is set to take her chance in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes (1.50) as she bids to maintain her unbeaten record.
She could head a three-strong team for trainer Karl Burke, who also kept Miss Lamai and Unspoken Love in the race. O'Brien could be represented by Heavens Gate, while Duchess of Cambridge Stakes heroine Arabian Dusk is still entered, but has been declared for Sunday's Prix Morny at Deauville.
Yorkshire Oaks confirmations
Bluestocking Ralph Beckett
Content Aidan O'Brien
Emily Upjohn John and Thady Gosden
Lava Stream David O'Meara
Mistral Star Hughie Morrison
Port Fairy Aidan O'Brien
Queen Of The Pride John and Thady Gosden
Sea Theme William Haggas
Sumiha Dermot Weld
You Got To Me Ralph Beckett
Read more . . .
White Birch set to bypass Juddmonte International as connections eye alternative Group 1 target
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