EXCITING filly Shutter Speed will bid for a first Group-race victory when she contests the £100,000 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday – the first day of the racecourse’s new season.

Shutter Speed will face four rivals in the extended mile and a quarter Group 3 race in which she will seek to make it three wins from three starts.

The John Gosden-trained filly was victorious in a maiden on her sole outing as a juvenile before reappearing as a three-year-old in a conditions race at Newbury last month.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s homebred by Dansili, gave an impressive performance winning by two and a half lengths. The form of the Newbury race was given a significant boost when stable-mate Enable – also carrying the famous Juddmonte colours – comfortably landed the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester last week.

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid, said: “Shutter Speed has come on very well since her Newbury run. It’s probably going to turn out to be a pretty decent race – we were delighted that Enable came out and won the Cheshire Oaks last Wednesday, which franks the form a little bit.

“Shutter Speed herself has been in great shape and we are really looking forward to running her at York. The main thing for us is for her to have a good race and get into a good rhythm.

“York will be a good test for her and hopefully will provide us with a good indication of where she should go. She has the option of the Oaks at Epsom and the Prix de Diane as well.

“Enable will go to the Oaks, all being well. But if we thought it was the right thing for Shutter Speed to go, we would still go with her. Her pedigree suggests that a mile and a quarter could be her best trip but we’ll see.”

Shutter Speed’s rivals will include the Jim Bolger-trained Vociferous Marina, who won a Listed race at Navan last month. Also in opposition will be the unexposed Sandown maiden Serenada from the powerful yard of Newmarket trainer Roger Varian. The field of five is completed by Miss Infinity (Mark Johnston) and debut winner Vintage Folly (Hugo Palmer).

Wednesday’s other highlight is the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes – worth £125,000 – which has attracted 13 runners. Group 1 winner The Tin Man makes his seasonal bow as does last year’s 1-2 in Magical Memory and Suedois.
York’s season-opening Dante Festival runs from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 May inclusively.