Shane Foley: 'It's a savage race but Magical Lagoon is ready and has improved'

Shane Foley has hailed Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks (3.35) a "savage race" but thinks Irish Oaks heroine Magical Lagoon can improve again to pass her biggest test yet.

You can understand why Foley uses the word savage to describe the £533,750 race given the winners of the Epsom and Irish Oaks are clashing with Alpinista, who is seeking a fifth Group 1 success in a row. Pretty Polly Stakes winner La Petite Coco, a winner of five of her last six starts, is also in the mix.

It promises to be a showdown to savour on the Knavesmire but Foley thinks the track will play to the strengths of the tenacious Magical Lagoon, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly who defied an in-running high of 35-1 to win the Ribblesdale at Ascot and also had to battle bravely to beat Toy in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.