There was another impressive winner of a Classic trial for Aidan O'Brien, as Whirl scorched to a bloodless victory in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York.
A market drifter before the off, the daughter of Wootton Bassett was sent off at 7-2 in the hands of Coolmore number one Ryan Moore, who was positive out of the stalls and never too far away from the pace.
It was Ralph Beckett’s Sandown winner Tattycoram that led the field of Classic aspirants into the straight, but Whirl was hot on her tail, with Moore soon allowing his mount to stride on up the long run for home on the Knavesmire.
The further she went, the better Whirl got as she sauntered to a five-and-a-half-length success over Andrew Balding’s Serenity Prayer, who made late ground from the back of the field.
The winner is now no bigger than 10-1 for the Betfred Oaks, but part-owner Michael Tabor suggested she is far from certain to head for Epsom.
He said: "Ryan said before the race his plan was to bump her out and get a good position and if they caught her, then so be it.
"I don’t think anyone expected that (performance) particularly, but Aidan seems to be able to do that, as we know.
"I don’t really think that Whirl is an Oaks filly. I think she’d probably get a mile and a half, but over a mile and a quarter, something like the Prix de Diane, I think, would be more suitable, but I haven’t discussed it with Derrick (Smith) or John (Magnier) or Aidan, so that’s just my thinking."
On what trip would be most suitable for Whirl, Moore added: "She’s by Wootton Bassett, so you can kind of do most things.
"She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip today and I thought she was impressive.
"She’s very straightforward, was always travelling nicely, she didn’t do a whole lot in front but she kept responding and I thought it was a nice performance."
