Liber Nautics wins Musidora at York

Dubai: Discernable, a three-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality, delivered a sub-par performance to finish last of six in the Group 2 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes on the opening day of York’s Dante festival on Wednesday.

Racing in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Mark Johnston-trained filly, appeared to have ever chance when she hit the front two furlongs from home but could find no more and weakend to finish at the tail of the field under jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

The race was won by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Liber Nauticus. The 4-6 favourite crossed the line full of running under Ryan Moore, with Romantic Settings, the mount of Paul Hanagan, a length and a half back in second.

It was the second straight success for the daughter of Azamour, who now heads to Epsom where she faces a further test of her credentials in the Group 1 Oaks.

Winning ride Moore was impressed with his mount’s performance and: “I was very happy with her because she doesn’t actually do a lot. She only does enough, so I was very happy. Hopefully she’ll get better as she gets older.”

Meanwhile James Fanshawe’s seasoned campaigner Society rock won the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes in a tight finish.

Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the six-year-old son of Rock Of Gibraltar held off Lethal Force, the mount of Alan Kirby, by a head.