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Connections of Midday are plotting an autumn campaign centred on her defence of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November.

Henry Cecil’s star filly recorded her fourth Group One triumph in the Yorkshire Oaks last week and is reported to have taken those exertions well.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: “We’ve decided Midday will head for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but whether she’ll run again before then has not totally been established.”

“We’ll see how she goes over the next couple of weeks but at this stage, I would think the Prix Vermeille (September 12) would be more likely than the Prix de l’Opera (October 3).

“There is not a big issue there and the Breeders’ Cup is her main objective.”

Henry Cecil’s Midday recorded the fourth Group One win of her career in a dramatic Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York – with old rival Sariska refusing to race.

While the latter entered the stalls without turning a hair, as soon as the gates opened she stood still under Jamie Spencer and her race was over before it began.

Midday (11-4) travelled strongly throughout under Tom Queally and cruised to the front two furlongs from home. This year’s dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy tracked her to the furlong marker and tried to reel her in, but Midday had too many guns and passed the post three lengths ahead.

Queally said: “It’s fair to say she’s getting better as she gets older. They went a good pace and I was sort of waiting for Sariska to come. She settled very well and got the trip very well, if anything I got there going a bit too well. She’s one hell of a filly and she’s very special to me.

“I wasn’t aware Sariska was still in the stalls, I was keeping her up to her game as I thought she might be coming hard at the end. I knew I had the rest beat, but I went to the front a bit early. I needed a lead for another furlong and a half really, but she oozes class and ability and keeps getting better.”

Cecil added: “That was a great performance. She was always going so well and she went and won the race, but then thought she’d done enough. She thought she was alone in front but found more. It was a real pity Sariska didn’t race, but the second is a very good filly.

“I would say that’s as good as she’s ever been and it was her best ever run. It’s a bit of a consolation for the Prince (Khalid Abdullah, owner) with Twice Over getting beaten on Tuesday and it’s his decision where she runs next.

“There’s the Prix Vermeille, the Prix de l’Opera or the Breeders’ Cup. I wouldn’t have thought it would be the Arc. We’re not trying to prove we’re the best in the world, rather just the best filly. I knew today she was better than at Goodwood and time will tell if she can improve even further.”

Ed Dunlop, trainer of the runner-up, added: “I’m delighted. I thought for a moment she might do something, but then Midday has quickened again and she’s an exceptional filly. We’ll take her home and see how she is, but I’ve not ruled out the St Leger yet.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Eleanora Duse finished third and Peter Reynolds, racing manager for owners Ballymacoll Stud, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled as the objective was to get her placed in a Group One and it’s paid off.”

Aidan O’Brien has yet to finalise running plans for the Juddmonte International at York next Tuesday.

With Harbinger out of the equation after suffering a career-ending leg injury, Rip Van Winkle is favourite across the boards for the Group One contest and the trainer is certainly eyeing up a trip to the Knavesmire.

Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco, a distant second behind Harbinger in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, is another Ballydoyle inmate under consideration for the race.

“We’re looking at the Juddmonte with both Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco but it hasn’t been decided whether we will run one or both,” said O’Brien.

“They are both in good form and ready to run, we’re just waiting for everyone to decide. It’s not definite by any means – we have the Juddmonte and then the Irish Champion a couple of weeks later.

“We’re looking at the Juddmonte with Rip Van Winkle – we’re hoping he’s going to turn up, we just haven’t confirmed it definitely with everyone yet.”

The main opposition appears to be the Khalid Abdullah-owned duo Byword and Twice Over.

The Prince’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “Last year we thought Byword was very good but he was affected by a virus and this year he has come on in leaps and bounds. There’s probably not a huge amount between him and Twice Over and it’s going to be fascinating.”

Twice Over’s trainer, Henry Cecil, added: “I’m hoping he’ll run very well. He’s in good form and there’ll be no excuses.”

Derby hero Workforce will have to show connections he is back in peak condition before they allow him to return to the racecourse.

The King’s Best colt looked destined for greatness following his seven-length Epsom triumph but he was well beaten in fifth as stablemate Harbinger ran away with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Nothing significant has come to light following that lifeless display and connections will give him all the time he needs to find his feet once again.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, told At The Races: “There is no question he was a very impressive winner of the Derby. He won by seven lengths and you can never take that away from him. It was an outstanding performance which ever way you look at it.

“We’re pretty sure he didn’t give his true running at Ascot. He has been checked out thoroughly with a fine tooth comb and nothing significant has been revealed, so we are just going to have to let him tell us when he’s ready to go back to the races.

“We’re not going to put a programme on him, and realistically the one remaining race for him in Europe is the Arc. But we want to know he is back on song and giving everyone the vibes we’re looking for.

“We want to be convinced he’s going to do himself justice. All the signs were that he would at Ascot, but he didn’t. Perhaps he just needed a bit more time and perhaps he had a much harder race at Epsom than we thought.

“People need to remember that Ascot was only his fourth race. He’s a big, scopey horse and he may just need a bit more time to strengthen up.”

Not many Derby winners stay in training beyond their Classic campaign, but Grimthorpe is not ruling out the possibility of Workforce running as four-year-old.

He went on: “If he improves as much as Harbinger did between three and four, then we’re going to have something quite special. It’s certainly a possibility that he could stay in training, but we haven’t really got there yet. That will be Prince Khalid’s decision.”