RACING:THE FUGUE was catapulted to the head of the betting for the Investec Oaks with an imperious display in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York yesterday.

John Gosden’s filly was having just her third start having run a respectable fourth in the 1,000 Guineas 10 days earlier. She was struck into on that occasion but thankfully the damage was only superficial, allowing her wound to heal in time for her to gain valuable experience in the recognised Oaks trial.

However, all the pre-race talk was about Aidan O’Brien’s Twirl, one of a strong contingent of Classic fillies from Ballydoyle this season. Twirl ended up being sent off the 5 to 6 favourite allowing The Fugue to start at odds of 15 to 8 but William Buick was sitting pretty at the two-furlong marker while Joseph O’Brien was already asking his mount to quicken.

When Buick pressed the button, The Fugue stretched four and a half lengths clear and is now 7 to 2 favourite (from 12 to 1) with Coral for the Classic. Betfred and Boylesports are biggest at 5 to 1.

“The better ground has made a big difference to her,” said Gosden. “She’s a lovely filly and she was unlucky in the Guineas when she was struck into.

“All being well she’ll run at Epsom now, but she wouldn’t want it soft. In case it is, we’ll also leave her in the French Oaks. William was a bit cocky between the one and the two but he felt he had Joseph’s measure. I didn’t like bringing her here just 10 days after the Guineas, but I felt we had to find out if she was good enough for Epsom. I always felt she would stay 10 furlongs but wasn’t so sure about the rest but William says it won’t be a problem (another two furlongs). She’s got little ballerina feet that sunk at Newmarket so we just hope it’s not soft at Epsom.”

Mahmood Al Zarooni expects to find out whether Mandaean is a realistic Investec Derby contender by running him in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York today.

This prestigious Group Two contest is widely considered the best of the British trials for the next month’s Epsom showpiece, with Authorized the last horse to complete the double in 2007.

Mandaean certainly looked the part on his two juvenile appearances for French maestro Andre Fabre, making an impressive debut at Longchamp before grabbing Group One honours in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He makes his Godolphin debut on the Knavesmire, but his trainer admits he does not know the full capabilities of his exciting colt.

“He has done well and is ready to go. Hopefully, this run can get him ready for the Derby if he is good enough,” said Al Zarooni.