Rain threatens hopes of John Gosden filly Shutter Speed in Musidora Stakes at York Racecourse

Forecast heavy rain has dampened enthusiasm ahead of Shutter Speed's run in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.
John Gosden, trainer of exciting filly Shutter SpeedJohn Gosden, trainer of exciting filly Shutter Speed
John Gosden, trainer of exciting filly Shutter Speed

John Gosden's exciting filly is a short-priced favourite for the notable Oaks trial after putting up a thrilling display at Newbury on her reappearance.

She beat a stablemate Enable on that occasion, with that filly subsequently winning the Cheshire Oaks and while she looks guaranteed to take her chance at Epsom, connections do harbour doubts about Shutter Speed's ability to stay a mile and a half.

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As the Musidora is only over 10 furlongs there will be no definitive answer on the Knavesmire, but the softer than expected ground will turn it into more of a stamina test.

Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "The rain is not very satisfactory, but it is our intention to run.

"She did win on her debut at Yarmouth when it was pretty soft ground so she can act on it, but whether she can show what we know she is capable of is another thing.

"We'll just have to play it by ear, but we do want to run as there's nowhere else for her to go.

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"York will be a good test for her and hopefully will provide us with a good indication of where she should go. She has the option of the Oaks at Epsom and the Prix de Diane as well.

"We're keen for her to have a run before either Epsom or Chantilly, but it's not essential.

"She has come on very well since her Newbury run. It's probably going to turn out to be a pretty decent race - we were delighted that Enable came out and won the Cheshire Oaks, which franks the form a little bit.

"Shutter Speed herself has been in great shape. The main thing for us is for her to have a good race and get into a good rhythm.

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"Enable will go to the Oaks, all being well. But if we thought it was the right thing for Shutter Speed to go, we would still go with her. Her pedigree suggests that a mile and a quarter could be her best trip but we'll see."

One man not worried about the recent rain is Roger Varian who runs Serenada.

Third on her only start at two, she came out and won a Sandown maiden on her reappearance and she is a sister to a previous winner of this race in Liber Nauticus.

"Serenada showed a good attitude to win a competitive-looking Sandown maiden and I feel she has stepped forward since," Varian told his website.

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"The course will suit her and she won't mind some ease in the ground - this will tell us a lot more about her."

It is rare for Aidan O'Brien not to be represented in a Classic trial but that is the case here and the Irish challenge instead falls to Jim Bolger, who last won the race in 2008 with Lush Lashes.

His representative this year is Vociferous Marina, a surprise 20-1 winner of the Listed Salsabil Stakes where she beat O'Brien's Pocketfullofdreams who finished second at Lingfield on Saturday.

Hugo Palmer's once-raced Vintage Folly and Mark Johnston's Miss Infintiy complete the field.

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