Minnie Hauk Targets Another Milestone in the Yorkshire Oaks With the Breeders’ Cup on the Horizon
- Turf Diario
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Owner of the Oaks double, the Frankel filly heads to York looking to reaffirm her star status, facing Estrange, Qilin Queen, and Garden of Eden
YORKSHIRE, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- European classic racing will write another of its most compelling chapters Thursday at York, where the Yorkshire Oaks (G1, 2000m) takes center stage. Beyond its own prestige, the race offers an added incentive: a “Win and You’re In” berth for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, worth $2 million, to be run Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
All eyes will be on Minnie Hauk, the filly who has emerged as the standout of her generation after sweeping both the Epsom Oaks (G1) and the Irish Oaks (G1) under the direction of Aidan O’Brien. The daughter of Frankel, carrying the colors of Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier, enters York on the back of a decisive Curragh triumph that confirmed her supremacy among Europe’s 3-year-old fillies.
Her résumé speaks volumes, and so does the formline. At Epsom, she was made to battle to the wire, defeating stablemate Whirl (Wootton Bassett) by a neck. That rival has since elevated the form considerably, adding back-to-back victories in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) and the Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, the latter also a Breeders’ Cup qualifier.
“Everything has gone smoothly, and we think the track will suit her very well,” said O’Brien, who seeks his fifth Yorkshire Oaks victory and will saddle the heavy favorite.
The main opposition comes from Estrange (Night of Thunder), who races in the famous Cheveley Park Stud silks carried by champion Inspiral (Frankel). Trained by David O’Meara, she makes her G1 debut after an unbeaten first half of the season that included authoritative wins in the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (G3) and the Lancashire Oaks(G2). Yet ground conditions could prove pivotal.
“If it’s too firm, it wouldn’t be right for her. We probably wouldn’t run unless there’s some rain,” said O’Meara, as York is currently forecast to be good to firm.
Another contender is Qilin Queen (Pinatubo), trained by Ed Walker, who recently landed the Prix de Malleret (G2) at ParisLongchamp. She seeks redemption after finishing only eighth in the Epsom Oaks, but connections are hopeful conditions will help. With Kieran Shoemark aboard, her rider noted: “It’s a great chance for her to earn G1 black type. We know Minnie Hauk is the one to beat, but we’ve got to take our shot.”
Completing the small but select field is Garden of Eden (Saxon Warrior), another from the O’Brien/Coolmore team. Though she finished ninth in the German Oaks (G1), she had earlier shown her ability with a victory in the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot over similar fast ground.
Just four fillies will line up, but the Yorkshire Oaks shapes as a tactical affair where class outweighs quantity—and where Minnie Hauk will look to cement her supremacy against rivals who arrive with ambition but still trail her in proven quality.
Beyond the historic silverware, a Breeders’ Cup ticket—and all expenses paid—is on the line, offering the winner a golden opportunity to tackle the world’s best fillies and mares at Del Mar.
With three G1 wins already on her résumé from just six starts, Minnie Hauk appears poised to take another step toward history. Unless something unforeseen intervenes, York looks set to provide yet another stage for her relentless rise.
