Punctilious romps home in The Tattersalls Stakes which boosts her chances for The Vodafone Oaks
By Bob Sawhny
May 13, 2004

Godolphin's chances in The Vodafone Oaks strengthened last Tuesday(11th May), as The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Punctilious ( Danehill-Robertet ), a classy three-year-old filly, won The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes(Gr.3) at York(U.K.), from start-to-finish in a brilliant manner. 

Frankie Dettori, always at his best when able to dictate matters, gradually increased the tempo aboard the daughter of Danehill, and whizzed past the post, by a widening six lengths from Glen Innes, coming in third was Bay Tree and filling the frame to be fourth was Chanteloup. The winner stopped the clock at Two Minutes 22.330 seconds over the One Mile, two furlongs, 88yards trip which was run on soft going.

A promising juvenile last season, Punctilious was bought privately out of Michael Jarvis's stable, after she ran third in The Fillies' Mile at Ascot last September. She is now the 6-1 second favourite for the Vodafone Oaks, to be run at Epsom on the 4th of June. 

Her stylish victory looks sure to provide Frankie Dettori with a poser, as to whether to choose Punctilious above ultimatebet.com 1000 Guineas runner-up Sundrop-the current Oaks favourite, for the ride at Epsom 

After the race Dettori said: " As to what I will ride in The Oaks, we will wait until nearer the time and see how both are shaping up, before I make a decision."

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford had this to say: " She is a temperamental filly who has a mind of her own-she's not a filly you can bully, but she will improve a lot from this run and I think you will see the best of her, when she steps up in trip. Going up to a mile and a half will really suit her, as that seems to be her optimum trip."

British Bookmakers approximate Ante-Post odds for The Oaks to be run on the 4th of June at Epsom:
Sundrop 5-2, Punctilious 6-1, All To Beautiful 8-1, Baraka 12-1, Ouija Board 12-1, Hathrah 16-1, Poise 16-1, Necklace 20-1. Longer odds the rest.