Aidan O’Brien is on the verge of rewriting racing history after Whirl blazed past her rivals to dominate the Musidora Stakes at York. It’s not every day that a filly stuns the crowd and shakes up the odds, but that’s exactly what happened after Whirl’s unexpected win at the trials. With this victory, punters are reviewing their betting slips as the path to Epsom just got more interesting.
To make sense of this historic victory, let’s learn about the implications of this remarkable feat and what to watch out for in the coming races.
Whirl Dominates the Musidora Stakes at York
Last Wednesday. Whirl, with a display of raw power and timing, sent off at 7-2, stormed home to win the Musidora stakes by a striking five-and-a-half lengths.
Four-time recipient of the World’s best Jockey, Ryan Moore, praised Whirl saying, “She did everything perfect today, she did it beautifully, travelled well, took me there going well, found plenty off the bridle and was always in control.”
The victory at York also sets the stage for what could become a historic winning streak in the classic trials, as her latest win follows victories in the Chester, Lingfield, and Leopardstown races, all within eight days. With this emphatic achievement, Whirl has gone from being a longshot for the Oaks with odds of 33-1 to becoming a contender with 10-1 odds.
Why Whirl’s Turnaround is Remarkable
While O’Brien’s horses have been in unstoppable form in the trials, Whirl did not start the season on the best note. She finished sixth in her return race at the Curragh in April, leaving many in doubt of her chances at the trials, where she went off as the second favourite at 7-2.
Smoken, trained by Ralph Beckett, was the betting choice that day at 5-2 odds. But to everyone’s surprise, Smoken finished last of six, while Whirl’s win significantly boosted her Oaks chances.
What This Means for Punters Ahead of Epsom
With Whirl now standing as one of O’Brien’s top horses for the Oaks coming up at Epsom on June 6, 2025. She joins a team of three other powerful fillies — Minnie Hauk, Giselle and Lake Victoria — already making waves in the trials.
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Mixed Signals from Ownership on Whirl’s Epsom Fit
Surprisingly, Whirl’s winning streak is not convincing enough for Epsom as her co-owner in the Coolmore syndicate, Michael Tabor, hinted that Epsom might not be her next stop.
“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. ”
Despite this comment, her Oaks odds dropped sharply after the Musidora win, showing many punters still believe she has what it takes, even if her team is not fully convinced yet.
Meanwhile, other contenders to watch out for are:
- Desert Flower, winner of the Guineas 1000, trained by Charlie Appleby, remains the strong 3-1 favourite for the Oaks.
- Kevin Ryan’s Insherin, who recently won the Duke of York Stakes, is priced around 8-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the headline race on the final day of Royal Ascot in June.
O’Brien’s Quest for Full Derby Trial Sweep
While Whirl turned heads at York, O’Brien’s The Lion in Winter will take the centre stage in the Dante Stakes, the final major Derby trial. Winning here would mark O’Brien’s first-ever full sweep of the top five Derby trials.
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Conclusion
Even if Whirl does not run at Epsom, her outstanding performance in Musidora has made a big impact. Not only has she made a name for herself but she has also shaken the betting markets, and brought O’Brien to the point of making history in the classic Oaks and Derby trials.
