Taghrooda© Photo Healy Racing
John Gosden's brilliant filly Taghrooda will face six rivals when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
The daughter of Sea The Stars was a brilliant winner of the Investec Oaks at Epsom in early June, after which connections made the bold call of pitching her in against older males in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
The move paid dividends as Taghrooda saw off the likes of Telescope and Mukhadram and she will be long odds-on to clinch a third successive Group One prize back among her own sex on the Knavesmire.
Aidan O'Brien has saddled two previous Yorkshire Oaks winners in Alexandrova (2006) and Peeping Fawn (2007) and this year sends last season's runner-up Venus De Milo, as well as Irish Oaks second Tapestry.
Saeed bin Suroor's Godolphin runner Tasaday won a Listed prize at York, but clearly faces a far tougher assignment on her return to the track.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Talent has not yet rediscovered the form that saw her win last year's Epsom Oaks.
Luca Cumani's Irish Oaks third Volume and Lustrous from Richard Hannon's yard complete the field.
