Legacy Link dug deep to win a thrilling renewal of the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday — and book her place in the Betfred Oaks. It was a ninth Musidora for John Gosden and a third alongside son Thady, moving Gosden senior alongside Sir Henry Cecil as the race's most successful trainer. Here is the complete race report and what it means for the Epsom Oaks on June 7.
The Race
Legacy Link was a 6-4 favourite under Colin Keane and was happy to track the pace in the early stages as Moments Of Joy and Sea The Storm disputed matters. Ed Walker's impressive Sandown scorer Felicitas was never far away from Legacy Link and although Keane made the first move entering the home straight, injecting some pace and moving strongly past the front-runners, Kieran Shoemark was quickly alongside aboard the 5-2 second favourite.
A titanic battle would ensue up the Knavesmire, but it was the Clarehaven filly who advertised her tenacity at the finish, shading a three-quarters of a length verdict after a great duel worthy of the day's feature event.
Gosden's Reaction
Gosden said: "She did well. She was a little green early on, fresh first time out and broke away from the others on the outside. She got herself organised, then she got on the wrong lead around the bend, so just learning a bit. What I liked was she came through the race, looked like she'd done enough and then the second filly came to her, and that's a very nice filly too. I think to that extent it was a very good trial, I liked the way she fought back and saw it out strongly."
On the Oaks: "Colin feels she should go to Epsom. We have the Prix de Diane, but all being well she'll go to Epsom. She has a great mind on her but was short of match practice. I think she can do nothing but improve for the race and we could take her to the gallops morning at Epsom."
The Honest Assessment
The Sporting Life was measured: "This was a workmanlike win, vastly different to the performances of Emily Upjohn and Soul Sister who hacked up in this race for the same yard. Epsom will ask a question of her. She can't be this fizzy on the uphill section early on in the Oaks, as she'll have no chance of getting home."
The Oaks at Epsom on June 7 will be Legacy Link's definitive test. She is now 5/1 — second in the Oaks market behind Amelia Earhart, who won the Chester Cheshire Oaks. Two Gosden Musidora winners have also won the Oaks in recent seasons. The Epsom undulations will test whether the greenness she showed at York has been fully addressed.
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Facts verified via web search May 14 2026.