Barshiba connections aim high

Barshiba is set to have a tilt at the Group One Yorkshire Oaks next month after running away with the Lancashire equivalent on Saturday.

The David Elsworth-trained five-year-old belied odds of 12-1 to run out a convincing three-and-three-quarter-length winner over Fallen In Love in the Group Two contest at Haydock.

It was her first-ever Group race victory and afterwards Elsworth revealed he had his long-time patron Jeff Smith to thank for his decision to keep Barshiba in training.

"She had the form in the book to beat these less experienced but potentially very good fillies," said Elsworth.

"She had good form over shorter distances and about Christmas time, Jeff, who has plenty of broodmares, said "let's have a bit of fun and run her on (next season) and see what she can do over a mile and a half" and I was quite happy to agree.

"This is Jeff's third winner in three days and I don't know what we will do now, but she is in the Yorkshire Oaks and I think we will have a flirtation with the highest level."

Winning rider Paul Hanagan, who also won the race last season on the Richard Fahey-trained Anna Pavlova, said: "I have had a few rides for Mr Elsworth, so it is nice to ride my first winner for him and I think Barshiba is good enough to go for a Group One race."