Ultimate professional Snowfall turns on the charm in Knavesmire procession

Snowfall continued her relentless march towards the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by winning her third Oaks at York in the style of a filly with plenty more to offer.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore could not hide their excitement at what the autumn might bring after Snowfall cruised home in her own time with the Group 1 contest sewn up a long way out.

Having won the Oaks at Epsom by a record 16 lengths and then the Irish equivalent by eight and a half lengths, Snowfall again showed a staggering superiority even with a winning margin of 'only' four lengths.

She was nudged along three furlongs out and simply took off, striding clear with nonchalant ease to afford Moore the luxury of easing right down near the line.

Snowfall: added the Yorkshire Oaks to her growing list of Group 1 winsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That the clock stopped a little more than a second outside the course record on ground described as good was proof enough of Snowfall's brilliance in a race where main rival Wonderful Tonight underperformed in fourth.

Paddy Power cut Snowfall's Arc odds to 3-1 (from 7-2) immediately after the race and were forced to shorten her again to a best-priced 5-2, with most other firms going 9-4.

The first Sunday of October at Longchamp cannot come soon enough for O'Brien, who ended a winless run in Britain stretching back 22 runners since St Mark's Basilica in the Eclipse in the best possible fashion.

"She's getting really relaxed, she's thriving and she's really going to be ready for the autumn," the trainer said. "She's a very exciting filly who has thrived physically since last time and was so chilled walking around."

Expert jury: is Snowfall your idea of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner?

Asked whether Snowfall will go straight to the Arc, O'Brien said: "I think so, but we'll have to talk to the lads. If you wanted to have a run in between we could go to the Arc trials. The way she's been training, she'll be very comfortable, she's going up on the scales and getting heavier."

O'Brien recorded his sixth victory in the Yorkshire Oaks with echoes of 12 months earlier when three-year-old Love dazzled in a similar manner.

Love was taken out of the Arc at the final forfeit stage due to the testing ground, but O'Brien does not envisage any issue with Snowfall.

"This filly is versatile with regards to the ground and trip," he said. "The ground doesn't matter, she seems to be the same on all types of going.

"She relaxes and quickens rapidly. We thought she was very good all the time, even as a two-year-old."

Yorkshire Oaks: full result and race replay

The contrast between Snowfall's performances at two and three could not be more different, though. A solitary victory in seven juvenile starts did not mark her out as a potential superstar, but she has not looked back since kicking off her season here with a surprise 14-1 victory in the Musidora Stakes.

A day after the York faithful were treated to a spectacular display by Mishriff in the Juddmonte International, there was warm applause again from a crowd who knew they had seen something special.

The Yorkshire Oaks was the first time Snowfall had taken on her elders and now male opponents, such as Mishriff, will be lying in wait at Longchamp.

Yet what she has done this season has put her on the path to greatness, with Moore speaking in glowing terms about the daughter of Deep Impact.

"She gave me an exceptional feel and the race was over very quickly," he said. "She got me there very easily and the race was over two and a half furlongs out.

"I wasn't worried about the ground. When she won the Oaks it was good ground and last year she had to run on soft ground a lot. I think she handles most conditions and it wouldn't really be an issue for her.

"Today the performance was as good as anything I've felt. She definitely felt better than she did at the Curragh and hopefully that's a good sign she will continue to do that into the autumn."

Read more from the York Ebor festival:

Forbearance and Hollie Doyle land Listed contest tinged with romance

Expert jury: 'colts will ask more of Snowfall in the Arc - she doesn't appeal'

Now for the Guineas: Zain Claudette shows Classic potential with Lowther success

'This is my best day on track' - Mishriff masterclass a thrill for David Egan

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