Shareta tastes Darley Yorkshire Oaks glory

Shareta (left) gets up to beat The Fugue (right), with Was (centre) in third place in the driving rain at York this afternoon. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Last year’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc Triomphe runner-up, Shareta, tasted top level glory for the first time at York this afternoon when landing the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, race six in the QIPCO British Champions Series Fillies & Mares category.

Having led to halfway, she remained close-up after first the Investec Oaks winner, Was, and then entering the final furlong the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes winner, The Fugue, took it up.

What matters is who is in front at the line, however, and the game Shareta outstayed The Fugue to get her head back in front close home and win by a neck, with Was a length and three-quarters back in third.

The race was run in driving rain and Shirocco Star, Bible Belt and Coquet were well beaten, with Wild Coco withdrawn earlier in the day.

"I always thought she had the ability to be at the top with the fillies, we will have to see with the colts,” said the delighted winning trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre.

All the runners are entered for the seventh and final race in the Fillies & Mares division, the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 20 October, when the mighty Frankel is expected to have the final race of his unparalelled career in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.