Yashoda raises fillies Derby hopes

THE good performance by Yashoda in winning the curtain event on the Arima Race Club ‘Carib Friday Lime’ card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, has given hope of a filly lifting next month’s Royal Oak Derby. The daughter of Kdanzc/Top Priority has shown marked improvement since her eighth-place finish in the CLICO Midsummer Classic on July 3, and has only been beaten once in three starts since, over long trips. Yashoda bounced back from her poor showing in the second leg of the triple crown to win an event over 1750 metres for West Indian bred three-year-olds with consumate ease last month.

She returned on August 2 to compete in the Chevrolet Optra Oaks Stakes Trophy, and although she proved no match for French Academy in the 2000 metres contest, finished with a flourish to pip Midsummer Classic winner Melanie My Love for the runner-up spot. Yashoda made a quick reappearance on Friday last, and stayed on in game fashion to expose a number of Derby contenders, including some much- fancied colts in the Hero race over 1750 metres on the Carib sponsored evening lime card. Another filly to show good staying qualities in Friday’s race was Douglas Bennett’s Private Affair.

This daughter of Private Banker/Rhythmic Dancer was full of running in the closing stages when the passage between Yashoda and Fast Company her rider chose closed, denying her a better placing. After their runs, connections of both fillies must fancy their chances of earning one of the six purses on offer in the final classic on September 24 for which 25 runners have stood their ground after the third subscription stage, but only 18 will be allowed to face the starter. The outstanding performances by both fillies, must have brought a smile to the face of trainer John O’Brien, since his leading contender French Academy slaughtered the pair by a widening 16 lengths in the Oaks.