On what would've been the first day of York's Dante Festival fixture, our racing team remember their favourite Musidora Stakes winners and we want yours, too.
Who are your favourite Musidora winners? Share your thoughts with us via racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and they will appear at the foot of the article.
David Ord - Diminuendo 1988
Sir Henry Cecil liked the Musidora at York and four times in the five-year period between 1985 and 1989, he won it.
With very good fillies too. Fatah Flare set the ball rolling under a front-running masterclass from Steve Cauthen. In 1987 it was Indian Smimmer's turn to showcase the talents that were to take her to victory over Miesque in the Prix de Diane.
Snow Bride hauled the prize back to Warren Place in 1989 and went on to win the Oaks - albeit on the disqualification of Aliysa some months later.
But it's the 1988 winner Diminuendo of whom I have the fondest memories. What a filly.
Wearing the maroon and white silks of Sheikh Mohammed she proved at least one league above her York rivals.
She sauntered to the front over two furlongs out and put the race to bed in three strides, coming home in her own time as Cauthen applied the brakes through the final 100 yards.
It was a performance that screamed Oaks winner, which she duly became at Epsom less than a month later before adding the Irish and Yorkshire versions to her big race haul.
She was brilliant, a strong travelling filly with push-button acceleration. She arrived at a time when trainer, owner and jockey were at the top of the three. It seemed inevitable that every year they'd unearth a Group One performer or three.
In the 1988 Musidora it was clear Diminuendo was among them.
Mike Vince - Lush Lashes 2008
York’s Musidora Stakes has to battle for top billing with the big sprint of the Dante Festival week, the Duke of York Stakes on the opening day, but through the years has seen some exceptional performances.
It is also just about the only Classic Trial in either Britain or Ireland where the words ‘ winner trained by AP O’Brien’ do not appear on the Roll of Honour.
Indeed the way things are going the Monopolies Commission will soon be investigating the total domination by Newmarket trained horses. Just once since 2006 has the prize gone anywhere other than HQ and that was 12 years ago.
Step forward Jim Bolger, who had ‘previous’ in the race thanks to Condessa and Give Thanks in the early 80’s. His winner in 2008 was a superstar.
Remember the name? Lush Lashes.
The daughter of Galileo turned the contest into a procession and it was a question of ‘how far’ from the moment Kevin Manning, on a filly that had finished sixth in the 1,000 Guineas, hit the front two out.
She drew five lengths clear of her seven rivals in the end, with Jamie Spencer on Cape Amber in second and Da Re Mi under Jimmy Fortune third.
There was a real ‘wow’ factor about how she quickened and the Ballydoyle runner Moonstone, later to win the Irish Oaks, could finish no nearer than fourth. Her York conqueror was sent to Epsom as favourite for the Oaks. But that was not to be her day.
Bolger’s reaction was to bring her back in trip and it proved inspired. Lush Lashes won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Yorkshire Oaks run because of a waterlogged Knavesmire at Newmarket, and the Matron Stakes, adding a runner-up in the Nassau Stakes to her CV too.
She was a special filly and those present at the track or watching on TV were the first to realise just how special on Musidora day.
Send us your views
Send in your favourite memories of Musidora winners at York and other contributions to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com while if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks, please let us know.
Feedback from readers
Dave Parker: My memory goes back to 1987 Indian Skimmer trained by Sir Henry Cecil who then went on to win the race in 1988 with Diminuendo then Snow bride in 1989 who I believe hold the course record for the race?
All were ridden by Steve Cauthen, 3 great fillies with Diminuendo and Snow Bride going on to win the Oaks and Indian Skimmer winning the Irish Champion stakes.
The Musidora as a race has been a great stepping stone for many fillies over many years.
But why is it only a Group 3 race surely it’s time that some Group races should be reassessed flat racing does have a tendency to live in the past, whereas National hunt does move with the times in all aspects of the sport.
In recent years The Fugue was a very memorable winner .
Great race.
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