Verdict

Stay Alert finished in front of the below par AL HUSN on fast ground in the Yorkshire Oaks. But Roger Varian’s filly will appreciate both the drop back down in trip and today’s softer underfoot conditions having won the Group 1 Nassau at Goodwood in August with the French 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Blue Rose Cen back in fourth. The latter failed to get a clear run on that occasion and is preferred to compatriot Jannah Rose, who beat Lumiere Rock at Deauville before the latter won a Group 2 at the Curragh with Jackie Oh three lengths behind. The unexposed German Oaks winner Muskoka makes more appeal than Darkaniya while Rogue Millennium has the beating of State Occasion on earlier running at York.

Formwatch

Darkaniya (FR) 15-8fav (9-4) Mid-division, front rank 4f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Baden-Baden 1m 4f Grp 2 fll stks gd in Sep beating Kolossal (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.

Stay Alert 18-1 (9-9) In rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Warm Heart (9-0) at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Aug.

Al Husn (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, switched wide over 3f out, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Warm Heart (9-0) at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Aug.

State Occasion 7-2 (9-4) Close up, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Passenger (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.

Rogue Millennium (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, pushed along and headway between horses under 2f out, went 3rd 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Tahiyra (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.

Jannah Rose (IRE) 8-11 (8-13) Chased leaders, challenged 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 2 hvy in Aug beating Lumiere Rock (8-13) by hd, 5 ran.

Excellent Truth (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) Raced in midfield, ridden 2f out, smooth headway to lead before line, won at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 3 stks sft in Jul beating Left Sea (8-12) by nk, 8 ran.

Lumiere Rock (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Close up, 3rd halfway, pushed along to lead narrowly over 2f out, asserted over 1f out, clear final 150 yards, ran on strongly, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep beating Jackie Oh (9-2) by 3l, 11 ran.

Muskoka (GER) 5-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and headway to join leaders 1f out, led close home, won at Dusseldorf 1m 3f Grp 1 sft in Aug beating Kassada (9-2) by nk, 13 ran.

Jackie Oh (IRE) 16-5fav (9-2) Towards rear, 9th halfway, effort and not much room over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Lumiere Rock (9-2) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.

Blue Rose Cen (IRE) 10-11fav (8-11) Never better than mid-division, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Warm Heart (8-11) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 fll sft in Sep.

Crown Princesse (FR) 25-1 (8-11) Never a factor, last of 8, 17 1/4l behind Warm Heart (8-11) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 fll sft in Sep.