Flora Of Bermuda
Inisherin was impressive in winning the Duke of York Stakes at York on Wednesday, and Night Raider commanded a lot of attention afterwards, given how fast he went early, the general sentiment being that he might be suited by a drop down to five furlongs, despite the fact that he has won over seven. Also, he could be suited by a move to Ascot's straight track, given that he is four for four on all-weather, and now zero for four on turf.
That said, the performance that Flora Of Bermuda put up in finishing second in the Duke of York Stakes is at least as noteworthy, and possibly not as high-profile. Back in the field early on under PJ McDonald, sixth of the eight runners passing the three-furlong marker and travelling well, she didn't have a great deal of racing room towards the far rail as they raced to the furlong marker. She had to manoeuvre her way through traffic, but she picked up well once she got into the clear and, while Inisherin got first run on her, and got a nice gap on the inside rail, she kept on well, joining the winner deep inside the final furlong but just weakening inside the final 25 yards and going down by a neck in the end, but still clocking the fastest time in the race for the penultimate furlong and for the final furlong.
It was a big run by Andrew Balding's filly on her seasonal return, her first run as a four-year-old. She was progressive last year at three, she won a Group 3 fillies' race over Saturday's course and distance on easy ground, and she rounded off her season with a career-best performance to finish third in the Group 1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day in October. She proved that day that she could operate at Ascot, which is obviously a positive for Royal Ascot. She might be better with a little bit of cut in the ground, so she is one to keep in mind too when the rains come again.
York, 14th May 2025
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