“The Arc has to be very much on her agenda”

Minnie Hauk provided Aidan O'Brien with a ninth Yorkshire Oaks success and looked to book her place on Coolmore's Arc roster when running out a dominant winner on the Knavesmire on Thursday.

Having stamped herself as the best middle-distance filly of her generation with victories in both the English and Irish Oaks, Minnie Hauk was a 8/15 chance to complete the Group 1 hat-trick, with Estrange, Qilin Queen and Garden Of Eden the only three rivals in opposition.

With Garden Of Eden adopting the role of pacemaker, Ryan Moore was happy to bide his time on the daughter of Frankel before making his move on the approach to the three-furlong marker. Whilst both Garden Of Eden and Qilin Queen began to falter on the inside, Minnie Hauk and Estrange moved into contention down the middle of the track. The latter loomed large under Danny Tudhope as though she was going to mount a serious challenge, but Minnie Hauk did what she does best and found an extra gear under Ryan Moore, who once in full command, only had to push out his mount to score by three and a half lengths from the gallant Estrange.

"Ryan gave her a lovely ride and Wayne (Lordan) set lovely even fractions," said O'Brien. "There's probably more to come and more to see when the pace is strong. We think there's plenty to come from her still.

"She's strong and isn't made like a typical mile and a half filly. She's made like a miler, round and strong and is a good mover with a good mind. She gets to the line well too."

On future plans, Minnie Hauk now looks set to spearhead Aidan O'Brien's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe team, with Paddy Power making her an 8/1 chance for the Paris showpiece.

He said: "She obviously could go to the Arc. She could go to a Breeders' Cup Turf, but the Arc has to be very much on her agenda.

"A mile and a half doesn't worry her and ease in the ground doesn't worry her either. When you get a filly progress at this time of the year, anything can happen."

When asked if Minnie Hauk could be joined by stablemate Whirl, who finished runner-up to her in the Epsom Oaks before wins in the Pretty Polly and Nassau Stakes, O'Brien added: "She could. Whirl's next options are the Prix Vermeille or the Irish Champion Stakes.

"The lads will make the decision but there's a good chance that Delacroix could go back for the Irish Champion."