Racing:There was a huge surprise in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York when odds-on favourite Sariska was beaten by Dar Re Mi. Having already won the Oaks at Epsom and the Irish equivalent, Sariska was sent off the 4-11 favourite to win another Group One.
However, Jimmy Fortune always had John Gosden's four-year-old just in front of Michael Bell's filly and Jamie Spencer could not get Sariska back on terms.
Barshiba set only a steady pace up front with the winner and Sariska sat in fourth and fifth.
Spencer appeared to be going easily enough three furlongs out but when Fortune asked his mount, a Group One winner in her own right, to quicken, she did so immediately.
Sariska appeared to be just hanging slightly and she never looked like getting on terms and was three-quarters of a length behind 11-2 chance Dar Re Mi at the line. Roman Empress was third.
Spencer said: "We got beat, she wasn't fast enough on the day, no excuses. You come here, you do your best, but she ran into a good horse."
Gosden said: "It was a perfect race in that Ryan Moore's filly (Barshiba) is very strong and she set a good pace.
"The older filly has beaten the younger filly. We're giving her 10lbs but it's the first time Sariska has met older fillies and, let's be honest, if we're not in the race she's the winner of three Oaks in a row.
"We're going for the Prix Vermeille and if she runs a big one there we'll think about something mad like the Arc."
The winner is owned by Lord Lloyd-Webber and his wife said: "It's so exciting, to have bred her as well, it's a real team effort.
"We managed to squeak home in Ireland last time but I have to say Sariska is the most fantastic filly and it's sad for her, but we were second in this last year and managed to go one better this year."
Bell was philosophical in defeat, adding: "It's not the end of the world.
"Obviously we hoped she would win by three lengths and be favourite for the Arc but all credit to the winner - don't forget she's a Group One winner and she's an older, stronger horse.”