Open to three-year-olds and older fillies and mares, the Yorkshire Oaks has been in existence since 1849. In recent decades, three special distaffers – Only Royale, Islington and Enable – have each won it twice. This year’s contest is as high class as ever, featuring defending champion Minnie Hauk, Irish Oaks winner Johanna Walsh – plus the race favourite, Kalpana, a three-time G1 winner, including against all-comers last time in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Wathnan Racing’s Earth Shot won the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot (pipping Johanna Walsh), before running indifferently in the Irish Oaks. This fair track should play to her strengths, and the rain has come to give her the best chance of putting up a bold show. Her trainer, William Haggas is the proudest of proud Yorkshiremen and loves having winners at this meeting. He last won the Yorkshire Oaks in 2018 when Sea Of Class beat an equally strong field – coincidentally ridden by Wathnan’s James Doyle.