Minnie Hauk scoring the Cheshire Oaks. (Alan Wright-focusonracing.com)
Winner Gains Automatic Berth into 2025 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Release
YORK, Yorkshire, England – Dual Classic-winning heroine Minnie Hauk (IRE) has been declared to take on Yorkshire-based Estrange (IRE) in the Aug. 21 Yorkshire Oaks (G1) over 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old and over fillies at York Racecourse. An automatic berth into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) is on the line through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael B. Tabor, Minnie Hauk comes off a 1 1/4-length victory in the Irish Oaks (G1) in July at The Curragh – completing the English-Irish Classic double, having won the Epsom Oaks (G1) the month prior.
The daughter of Frankel (GB) showed her true class when sustaining a duel in the closing stages of the Epsom Oaks to eventually beat stablemate Whirl (IRE) by a neck. This form has been heavily boosted with Whirl (IRE) going on to win the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at The Curragh before winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood – claiming an automatic berth into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
“Everything has gone well, we think the track will suit her,” O’Brien said of Minnie Hauk.
The odds-on favorite, Minnie Hauk will take on Cheveley Park Stud’s Estrange – from the same ownership that enjoyed success in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2023 with Inspiral (GB). This will be the Yorkshire raider’s first Group 1 contest, stepping up in class after winning both the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (G3) and the Lancashire Oaks (G2) at Haydock in impressive fashion earlier this season.
However, trainer David O’Meara has concerns for the ground and said: “Good to firm will be no good for her. I’d be almost certain she wouldn’t run on quick ground.”
With the going currently good to firm at York, the team will be hoping for some rain ahead of Thursday to suit their contender.
Trainer Ed Walker has declared TBT Racing’s Qilin Queen (IRE) after an impressive win in the Cygames Prix de Malleret (G2) at ParisLongchamp in July, having finished eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Epsom Oaks in June. Kieran Shoemark has been booked for the ride after success in France, and with a small field, is keen on her chances.
Shoemark said: “She needs top of the ground which she looks like getting at York and it’s a good opportunity for her to get Group 1 Black Type I suppose with Minnie Hauk, who is odds-on favorite. Fair play to Ed and the owners for taking the chance.”
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith also own Garden of Eden (IRE), who completes the field of four. The 3-year-old daughter of Saxon Warrior (JPN) was last seen finishing ninth in the German Oaks (G1) earlier this month, having won the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June on good to firm ground.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks Stakes to start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 3/8 miles. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
