3 minute read

Oaks heroine Soul Sister has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season with a four-year-old campaign in mind next year.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly gave Frankie Dettori what is likely to be one of his finest hours in his swansong season when powering across the famous Surrey Downs to land the 2023 Epsom Oaks.

The victory provided Lady Bamford with a second success in the twelve-furlong fillies' Classic after Sariska showed her rivals a clean pair of heels back in 2009 and Soul Sister will now return to her owner-breeder's Daylesford Stud after a "little niggle".

Charlie Gordon-Watson, racing manager to Lady Bamford said: "It's only a temporary thing and precautionary and as we wanted to have her for next year it was the prudent thing to do,"

"It's the sensible thing to do and she will be better next year, she's going to be stronger. She's not the strongest but she'll strengthen up for next year and it is the right thing to do."

Lady Bamford's daughter of Frankel has only had five runs to date and began her campaign with a disappointing reappearance in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. However, she left that form well behind to land the Musidora Stakes at York on her next start before enjoying Classic success under Frankie Dettori at Epsom a month later.

Soul Sister was last seen finishing third when facing the colts for the first time in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July.

"I think the Longchamp run was a very good run looking back on it," Gordon-Watson added.

"The winner came wide of her and from behind her and Kieran Shoemark rode her very well. In hindsight, it was probably a really good race.

"Looking back on it, the ground in Ireland in the Irish Oaks wouldn't have suited her and as it turned out she ran in the right race."