Horse Racing: Dare Re Mi to hit the high notes

Staunch racing purists will no doubt sneer at the claims of John Gosden's under-rated mare, and arguably with just cause. After all, only two members of the opposite sex – Pebbles (1985) and Kooyonga (1995) – have won the Sandown Group One, with many other crack fillies having tried and failed. But in a renewal lacking any seriously hot prospect – there is certainly nothing of Sea The Stars' calibre this year – Dar Re Mi is probably the most exciting contender in the field of six.

Twice Over fans may beg to differ, of course. Yet despite the distilled qualities of Henry Cecil's representative, a lingering doubt remains that he is still susceptible to a serious Group One performer. Enter Dar Re Mi.

The five-year-old mare has made breathless progress in 2009. Her Yorkshire Cup defeat over Sariska now looks stunning, while her unlucky Prix Vermeille demotion was as unfair as it was unheralded. Dar Re Mi also proved she can go toe to toe with the best colts in the business when unlucky in-running fifth to Sea The Stars in Arc and third behind Conduit in the Breeders' Cup Turf last year.

Her return in March was similarly emphatic as the daughter of Singspiel took her prize-money haul to well over 2.5million when winning the Sheema Classic in Dubai.

While a drop of rain would no doubt help her cause, Dar Re Mi won the Yorkshire Oaks on rattling fast ground and will be unfazed by the prospect of this drop in trip.