Minnie Hauk enhanced her Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) claims after a dominant display in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks (2,400m) at York on Wednesday, but she also has the option of the Breeders’ Cup.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was already towards the top of the market for Europe’s premier middle-distance race after wins in the Group One Oaks (2,400m) at Epsom and the Group One Irish Oaks (2,400m) at the Curragh, and this performance was a statement to all her potential rivals.

Settled in third by Ryan Moore, Minnie Hauk always travelled ominously well before taking over the running from pacesetting stablemate Garden Of Eden 400m out.

Second-favourite Estrange tried to make a race of it, but she was never a legitimate threat and Minnie Hauk kept up a relentless gallop to win by three and a half lengths.

After O’Brien’s dual Derby winner Lambourn was defeated on Tuesday, it was a big relief for the master trainer that his Oaks conqueror could do the business ahead of even bigger assignments.

“It was good for Ryan. We had a tough day on Wednesday and things didn’t work – you know that’s the way it is sometimes. Ryan is professional, so he didn’t flinch and he gave her a class ride,” O’Brien told Racing Post.

Minnie Hauk would need to be supplemented for the Arc at Longchamp in October, and with O’Brien’s other star filly Whirl looking set to take her place in that race, a trip to the Breeders’ Cup could be on the cards.

“Ryan was talking to Michael [Tabor] and Derrick [Smith] afterwards and I was earwigging in, and he mentioned the Arc for Whirl,” O’Brien said.

“Whirl handles soft ground but goes on good too, while Minnie Hauk is a beautiful mover. We always thought the quicker the ground, the better she’ll be and she skipped over that.”