James Doyle is facing a short spell on the sidelines after being diagnosed with a viral infection.
Wathnan Racing’s retained jockey did not ride at York on Thursday after feeling unwell and will now miss the final two days of the Ebor Festival, with his return to action expected next week.
Doyle said: “I felt unwell during racing on Wednesday, underwent tests on Thursday and have been diagnosed with a viral infection. I have been prescribed antibiotics and have been advised to rest for a few days.
“It’s hugely disappointing to be missing important rides, but I wish the team well and look forward to being back in action shortly.”
Doyle’s rides over the next two days included Night Raider in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes, with Danny Tudhope now taking the reins, while Robert Havlin will step in to partner French Master in the Sky Bet Ebor on Saturday.
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America Queen can strike Group-race gold before the season is out judged on a fine effort in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
Richard Hughes’ filly made a huge impression when bolting up by 12 lengths on her Haydock debut in early July and with Ryan Moore aboard, she was well fancied as a 5-2 joint-favourite for the Group Two opener on the second day of the Ebor Festival.
After travelling powerfully, the daughter of Havana Grey hit the front heading inside the final furlong before being run down late by her more experienced market rival Royal Fixation. It is surely only a matter of time before America Queen goes one better at this level.
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The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe dream remains alive for connections of Estrange after she chased home Minnie Hauk in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.
David O’Meara’s grey had looked every inch a top-class filly in winning four of her first five starts, most recently striking Group Two gold in last month’s Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.
Despite ground concerns, Estrange was given the go-ahead to step up to Group One level for the first time on the Knavesmire and her supporters must have been getting excited as she cruised menacingly into contention under Danny Tudhope early in the home straight.
She was ultimately no match for the Epsom and Irish Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk, to whom she was conceding 9lb, but there still appears to be every chance she could become Cheveley Park Stud’s first runner in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest on October 5.
“She ran a cracker on ground that maybe wasn’t quite ideal for her – she likes a bit softer. She was giving the winner 9lb and has finished second in a Group One to upgrade her CV, so we’re delighted,” said Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson.
“Two furlongs out, I’ve got to say, for a couple of seconds I thought ‘we could do this’. But you soon realised Minnie Hauk had too much and the 9lb was too much.
“The bottom line is it was a very good performance and we’re delighted to get second in a Group One.”
On a possible tilt at the Arc, for which Paddy Power make her a 33-1 shot, Thompson added: “The dream is not dead, of course it’s not, and if the ground came up right you’ve got to consider it because you don’t get many shots at the Arc.
“We’ll have to sit down and have a think about it, see how the ground looks and how she comes out of this race and take it from there because you’ve got other options for her, but the Arc is a dream of course as we’ve never had a runner in it and we’d love to have runner, who wouldn’t?
“You’ve got the fillies and mares race at Ascot on Champions Day two weeks later, so you’d have to see how the field was shaping up for the Arc and everything else. Ascot would be a good option for her as the ground should come all right for her there, it normally does.”
O’Meara was similarly delighted with the performance of Estrange and is looking forward to campaigning her at Group One level, wherever that may be.
He said: “Take nothing away from Minnie Hauk as she was tough today and she was tough at the Curragh – it’s what she does best. But we’re delighted with our filly, I think she’s run a very good race and we’re very proud of her.
“I was starting to get a little bit excited when Danny loomed up. She’s a lot of class, how she can move up so easy in a race – it’s a great asset.
“I’ll speak to connections and see what they’d like to do. We had this race in mind for a long time, for a while it was looking in doubt with the way the weather was and the ground was, but we’ve taken a chance and based on how she’s ran I think we were justified in doing so.
“I wouldn’t rule out the Arc, why not (have a go)? The only two older fillies that have won this race in recent years have both won Arc – Enable and Alpinista.
“Our filly has run a very good race today on ground that I think isn’t her optimum and she deserves her spot in Group One company.”
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York regular Al Qareem is ready to go “toe-to-toe” with Gold Cup hero Trawlerman in the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup as he seeks his third Knavesmire success of the summer.
Only Aidan O’Brien’s Gold Cup runner-up Illinois has been able to stop Karl Burke’s six-year-old in his last four starts and connections are raring to have a crack at John and Thady Gosden’s staying star, who will be out to replicate his Royal Ascot heroics and remain unbeaten on home soil in 2025.
“I did think the race would turn out stronger than it is so I’m pleased to see only six in the field,” said Nick Bradley, managing director of owners Nick Bradley Racing.
Al Qareem in action at York (Martin Rickett/PA)
“Trawlerman of course will be hard to beat, he’s drawn four and we’re drawn five. I’m looking forward to seeing who leads and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing those two go toe-to-toe at the two-furlong pole and may the best horse win.
“He’s got a good course record but I think that’s more because we’ve handpicked those races and he’s run well at places like Ascot and Chester as well, so I don’t think it’s because of the track necessarily.”
A winner of 11 of his 31 career starts, Al Qareem has long been a reliable source of success for his connections and his performance on the Knavesmire could prove key in Bradley hitting some ambitious targets for the current campaign.
He added: “My target for this year is £1.4million in prize-money and 60 winners and I’m thinking if I can be at £1.1million by the end of this month, I will be in good shape.
He’s not for passing!
Al Qareem is all heart once again as he makes all under @CliffordleexLee who got the sectionals absolutely spot on.
We’ve ran out of superlatives for this horse, the dream horse to own!
— Nick Bradley Racing (@NBradleyRacing) July 12, 2025
“If Al Qareem finishes second I think I’ll get there, so I will be relying on him quite a lot and it’s a credit to Karl and his team and the horse himself as we have a standard-bearer who tries so hard every time he lines up.”
Trawlerman is joined in the line-up by Clarehaven stablemate and stalwart of the division Sweet William, with Shackleton the chosen representative of Ballydoyle and Saeed bin Suroor’s Gold Cup third Dubai Future also engaged.
The field is completed by Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir, who was agonisingly denied by Vauban in this 12 months ago and suffered a similar fate at Sandown when last seen in the Esher Stakes.
“We’re really happy with the horse and he looks to have trained nicely since his run at Sandown,” said Clover.
Al Nayyir was second in this race last year (Mike Egerton/PA)
“I always wonder if this is the time of year he is at his best as he does come to hand a bit, which is encouraging. He looks super in himself and we will keep everything crossed for a big run.
“The only slight niggle for us is the ground and being that little bit older he might not want it this tight, but he has gone very well on it previously and has been working very well.
“It’s obviously going to be a very tall ask and although there are only six runners, it looks deep. But I do think he warrants his place in this field and if the others go really hard, it might set up well for him.”
There is also Group Two action in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes, where Ed Walker’s Do Or Do Not looks to turn some consistent form into a deserved success.
Do Or Do Not (left) has been a model of consistency (Joe Giddens/PA)
Second in both the Coventry Stakes and July Stakes before also finishing third in a strong renewal of the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, he now reverts to six furlongs with first-time cheekpieces in place.
“He’s been a very fun two-year-old and unlucky not to win one, but he’s been aimed high and we’re doing so once again,” said Walker.
“He’s in good form and I don’t see any problem with the drop back to six furlongs. They went very very fast when he couldn’t go with them down the hill in the July Stakes at Newmarket and I think he will be all right and we’re going to run him in cheekpieces.
“He ran really well at Goodwood as well and his form is really rock solid.”
Burke’s dual winner Reciprocated and Declan Carroll’s Thirsk novice scorer Lifeplan are other interesting names among a field of eight.
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Minnie Hauk completed an Oaks four-timer with a neat victory in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.
One of two runners for Aidan O’Brien in the Group One feature, the daughter of Frankel came into the York Group One with Cheshire, English and Irish renewals on her CV this term and was ridden by Ryan Moore as the 8-15 favourite.
Her stablemate Garden Of Eden set the pace and David O’Meara’s Estrange did ensure the winner had a race, but the triumph was ultimately light work by three and a half lengths on the line.
O’Brien said: “She’s beautiful, she does everything right, she cruises, she’s a lovely mover and obviously the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, all those races are there for her.
Minnie Hauk adds the Yorkshire Oaks to her haul (PA)
“Ryan said the (Breeders’ Cup) Turf, so she’s obviously given him an unbelievable feel. Ryan gave her a class ride, he was very cool on her. She is classy and he gave her a very confident ride.
“It wasn’t going to be a Mickey Mouse race today, they were going to go an even gallop without going crazy. Ryan has always said the stronger the tempo, the better we’re going to see.
“She’s very exciting.”
O’Brien – who saw Delacroix and dual Derby winner Lambourn suffer defeat on Wednesday – went on: “We’ve always felt the better the race the better she’ll be.
“It was good for Ryan, he had a tough day yesterday and things didn’t work out but the professional that he is he didn’t flinch.
“It was a nicely-run race, even though there were only four in it, I think the second is a nice filly, isn’t she.
“She’s won well in the end our filly, she obviously stays very well and always finishes her race off well. She doesn’t kill herself getting there but she’s always finishing.
“She has to be close to the top of our pecking order for the Arc, she’s an improving filly at this time of year.
“She could go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf but also the Arc. Whirl could go with her.
“Whirl could go to the Vermeille or Irish Champion, but there’s a good chance Delacroix goes back to the Irish Champion and if John (Gosden) brings his horse (Ombudsman) it will be great.”
Queen Camilla with the connections of Minnie Hauk (Richard Hauk/PA)
Co-owner Michael Tabor said: “I think she won very comfortably, she’s obviously very good and looking forward maybe she will run in the Arc or the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully we can keep her in training as a four-year-old and enjoy her.
“There’s no secret to the success. First of all we have a very good trainer but we try to breed the best to the best as we all do, like Godolphin and Juddmonte. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
“Yesterday was not a disaster, but it was tough. It’s tough when you lose which is why you have to appreciate when you win because it is not easy.
“Minnie Hauk beat Whirl at Epsom and dare I say their next races will be the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup for one or the other and hopefully they’ll have good chances in those races.”
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Ger Lyons may have taken some persuading to mount a Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes challenge with Lady Iman, but owner Roger O’Callaghan has always had York’s showpiece sprint circled on his calendar.
It was after the talented daughter of Starman had impressed in her first three outings that O’Callaghan first suggested taking on her elders on the Knavesmire and now with the Group One assignment coming into view, connections are determined to keep their feet firmly on the ground.
O’Callaghan said: “I said to Ger Lyons on June 28 in the parade ring before the race she got beat in that the race for Lady Iman is the Nunthorpe.
A first winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for trainer Ger Lyons!
It's a treble on the card too for Ryan Moore as Lady Iman shows her class in the £100,000 Group 3 HKJC @WorldPool Molecomb Stakes pic.twitter.com/6bcMnFvpAX
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) July 30, 2025
“I kind of had it in my head that five furlongs was her bag and then when she went to Goodwood, she proved she’s good at it (in winning the Molecomb Stakes).
“We’re looking forward to it, but we’ve enough going on to keep us busy and most of the time you would think you’ll get beat, don’t you?
“Prepare yourself for the worst and hope for the best is what they say. It’s just nice to be good enough to compete in the race, even if the trainer didn’t really want to and as we’ve said before, we’ll have a go.”
Kingsgate Native was the last two-year-old Nunthorpe winner in 2007 while The Platinum Queen was runner up in 2022, with both horses having been sold by the O’Callaghan family’s Tally-Ho Stud.
O’Callaghan added: “It’s kind of cool to be having a go at the Nunthorpe with Lady Iman and we actually sold Kingsgate Native to Anthony Bromley and John Best at Doncaster, while the last two-year-old to run well in the race was The Platinum Queen and we sold her too, it’s a race we like.”
Asfoora is a seasoned campaigner in Britain now (David Davies/PA)
Australian ace Asfoora finished fourth in the race 12 months ago and is back for another crack after unplaced runs at Royal Ascot and Goodwood so far this summer.
“I think we’re in good shape heading into York and we’ve been happy with her the last few weeks after Goodwood,” said trainer Henry Dwyer.
“I know she didn’t run as well as we had hoped at Goodwood and I think that was more based on the track conditions. We were thinking about scratching there but we knew we needed to run to get her ready for York and she came through it well.
“We thought she was a bit flat after Ascot so had to back off her a little bit heading into Goodwood and then the rain came. She ran and only got beat two and a quarter lengths with things against her but with things in her favour on Friday, I think she will go really well.”
The winner of Asfoora’s last outing in the King George Stakes was John and Sean Quinn’s reopposing Jm Jungle, while second at Goodwood was Jack Davison’s She’s Quality, who has been knocking on the door with regularity this term.
Jm Jungle (centre, green silks) edged out She’s Quality at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA).
“I keep telling myself her turn will come soon and we’ve been working towards this big one and let’s just hope it goes to plan on Friday,” said Davison.
“She’s got tremendous raw speed and it’s going to be fast and furious up the Knavesmire, but we’re really looking forward to it.”
Arizona Blaze, the Commonwealth Cup second who impressed at the Curragh last time, is a third Irish-trained contender for in-form trainer Adrian Murray.
“We couldn’t be happier with the horse he’s in great order and he’s drawn in mid-division so he’ll have options in the race,” he said.
Arizona Blaze (right) scorching to victory at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)
“Without doubt he’s ready and he’s done everything well for us up to now. He will have to step up again you would think, but there’s no time like the present. He’s been a star for us and has won well on quick ground in places like the Breeders’ Cup so it’s all systems go.”
Second to Arizona Blaze in the Sapphire Stakes was Mgheera, who excelled earlier in the season and is one of two in the mix for Ed Walker alongside last year’s Lowther Stakes scorer Celandine.
“It looks the perfect set-up for Mgheera and I think she has slightly gone under the radar having only run the once at the Curragh since winning the Temple Stakes,” said Walker. “She will love the fast ground and has been training very well.
“It will be very interesting coming back to five furlongs with Celandine, but I’m looking forward to trying it and I think she will cope with it.”
Course winner Sayidah Dariyan represents Richard Hughes in a race he famously claimed with Oasis Dream and Sole Power as a jockey.
Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah, said: “I’m very keen on her and I love this filly. For me, I think she could end up the best sprinting filly in the country.
“She got the track experience at York last time and we know that will suit and Ryan Moore is on board so she ticks a good few boxes.”
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Bullet Point could make a swift return to York on Saturday after stamping his class on Thursday’s £150,000 Clipper Handicap.
A winner at Newcastle and Newmarket in the autumn, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old picked up where he left off when completing his hat-trick at the Craven meeting in April and emerged with plenty of credit when second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot next time.
Having again filled the runner-up spot at the Berkshire track last month, Tom Marquand’s mount was the 15-8 favourite to regain winning ways on the Knavesmire and while he was briefly caught in a pocket, he quickened up smartly once the gap came to win by a length from Cerulean Bay.
Haggas said: “He’s lovely, going round a bend probably helped him and he did that well today.”
Bullet Point has been declared for the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes this weekend and could well bid for a second win on the Knavesmire before a planned trip across the globe next month.
“He’s declared for the Strensall and we always looked at doing both so we’ll see now. We’ll have a look at him on Saturday morning,” Haggas added.
“He’s going to go into quarantine to go to Australia on September 28 to run in a race called the Five Diamonds (Rosehill, November 8) which is a nine-furlong five-year-old (southern hemisphere) only race.”
Charlotte’s Web (11-4 joint-favourite) shone for Simon and Ed Crisford when taking the British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes.
Stepping to a mile and half under Danny Tudhope, the four-year-old travelled patiently before making headway int he final furlongs to score by a head from Crepe Suzette.
Ed Crisford said: “We’re really pleased, she’s taken another step forward.
“We were slightly concerned about the trip because we were stepping up to the mile and a half for the first time, but she travelled super well and came into the race nicely.
“We wanted to take our time today and that’s what Danny did. That last half-furlong you could see her tying up a bit, bit she got away with it.
“There’s no immediate plans, but there should be plenty for her. I think she’d probably like a bit softer ground.”
Andrew Balding’s Stellar Sunrise justified 100-30 favouritism in straightforward fashion in the Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap.
The Space Blues colt had beaten the highly regarded Naval Light on his previous outing and thrived for the step up to seven furlongs.
“Andrew has always loved this colt and he won really well at Goodwood. This was always the plan,” said Harry Herbert, representing owners Royal Ascot Racing Club.
“Oisin (Murphy) was so confident this week and said he was probably his best ride of the week so it’s lovely to see him do it.
“I’d imagine we’re looking at black-type races.”
The British EBF Fillies’ Handicap was then claimed by William Knight’s Royal Velvet, who bounced back from a blip last time out with a one-length victory under William Buick at 12-1.
“I don’t know what was up with her at Newmarket the last day,” said the trainer.
“We were scratching our heads, but that was an impressive performance today.
“We’ll probably start looking for some black type, I just don’t want the ground to go for her.”
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Clive Cox ruled the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at York once again as Song Of The Clyde came out on top.
The Middleham Park Racing-owned colt was ridden by Rossa Ryan and settled into a position at the fore of the 21-strong field in the early stages as a 15-2 shot.
As the race progressed he did not falter, putting his head down to lengthen towards the line and give his stable a third successive win in the richly-endowed sales race.
Cox said: “That was wonderful, what are the odds of winning it three times in a row with 400 horses in the sale each time?
“It’s such a good incentive this race and Harry Beeby was a good friend of mine, but the whole concept of such good prize-money is what is energising it and it’s amazing to get it right with this fella.
“We liked him, he grew an awful lot and had a bit of size and scope as a yearling, but he’s got such a wonderful mind as well and when he won at Chester I was really pleased as he jumped up two gears.
“He ran really well with a penalty at Newbury, the drier ground helped him here and he’s really going forwards in the right direction.”
The trainer’s 2023 winner, Dragon Leader, went on to finish second in the similarly valuable Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster the following month.
When asked if Song Of The Clyde could follow the same path, Cox added: “He could well do. We’ll see how he comes back, but those sort of prizes are available and he’s well qualified, so I would say that would be a possible target.
“I think he could be a horse that can look forward to a bright future from here – he’s not just about the sales races. We’ve been able to get him here good and sharp and ready to go, but I undoubtedly see him going on as a three-year-old. He’s got size and scope and a wonderful mind.”
Boston Dan filled the runner-up spot, beaten three-quarters of a length, and his trainer Richard Fahey said: “He ran a blinder, we were delighted with him.
“I thought two down we were going to win but obviously the winner just picked up and kept going.
“It was a good result, a great result for the owners. He’s in the sales race at Doncaster and all the others so we’ll see where he ends up.”
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Royal Fixation sprinted away from the field to land Group Two honours in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
Trained by Ed Walker and ridden by William Buick, the 5-2 joint-favourite was settled well off the pace in the six-furlong contest and had plenty of ground to make up as the race began in earnest.
But once Buick got lower in the saddle, Royal Fixation picked up in style to beat market rival America Queen by a length. Staya also made late gains to be beaten a further two lengths in third.
Royal Fixation was going one place than at Newmarket, where she had finished runner-up in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on what was just her second career outing.
Walker said: “We’ve always thought a lot of her and she ran a huge race at Newmarket. It’s been a really long six weeks since then, we’ve let her down and had to build her back up and then you start wondering if you’ve got it right or is she too fresh.
“She’s so good, what is exciting is that she still looked a bit green off the bridle, when he first asked her she just wandered around a bit.
“She’ll get further, for sure, but she won’t go to the Fillies’ Mile, I think we’ll go to the Cheveley Park. She’s quick, she’s got loads of speed, she’s got a very fast female line and I think she’d be too keen over a mile at the moment.”
Richard Hughes said of runner-up America Queen: “She can only improve. Ryan (Moore) just had to commit probably 50 yards earlier than he would have liked and you’re there to be shot at on an inexperienced horse, but she’s run a blinder and we can’t ask for more.
“The winner is a good filly and they opened up on the field, which is good. I’m gutted, but pleased.”
He added: “The Cheveley Park has always been in my mind, so we’ll have a little think about it. She’ll definitely be running again before that, but where we’re not sure yet. It was all about today first.”
George Scott was also pleased with the effort of third home Staya, saying: “She ran a really nice race. They raced on the far side and it got very tight and didn’t go to plan at all, but she’s run with great credit again and she’s probably well capable of going one or two better in this grade in the future.
“It just didn’t happen or pan out for us today. She picked up well, but it was too late – it was just the way the race worked out. It was a bit of an unsatisfactory race for us and it’s a little bit frustrating, but the winner has won well and well done to them.
“You’d love to have another run before the Cheveley Park, but we’ll see how she is.”
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Andre Fabre felt the front-running performance of Birr Castle “added some spice” to proceedings in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.
The master French trainer provided the five-year-old as a pacemaker for favourite and eventual winner Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden but in the same Godolphin ownership.
Ridden by Robert Havlin, Birr Castle had them all on the stretch and at one stage held a huge advantage.
Hot on the heels of 150-1 chance Qirat winning the Sussex Stakes, another huge shock briefly looked on the cards before he began to tire but to his credit he held on for third place, only beaten by the front two in the betting.
“He certainly added a bit of spice to the race! Nobody was expecting such a scenario,” said Fabre.
“He’s not a bad horse. He had a quiet season last year, but he was affected by a virus. He has a good rating, he’s Group-placed.
“It looked like he was 20 lengths clear and he was still a long way in front with two furlongs to run when Robert Havlin went into the middle of the track to let the others through, but they weren’t there.
“If he hadn’t done that he may have been second, but the winner was very impressive. He looks a very nice horse, he quickened so well from what was a slow pace for the rest.”
He went on: “It was just like what happened at Goodwood really, when the pacemaker won the Sussex Stakes. I was talking to John before the race and I said I wouldn’t mind the same result and we nearly got it.
“Everybody was happy in the end – John, myself and Godolphin. It’s just a shame for such a big race it did not attract more runners, that leads to pacemakers. With more runners you wouldn’t need them.
“A good pacemaker is one who if you let him go he is good enough to win it, it happened at Goodwood and nearly happened at York.”
Rosallion is set to face 10 rivals in the first renewal of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes since it achieved Group One status.
Richard Hannon’s star miler was bound for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last weekend but a bruised foot scuppered that plan and he was redirected to York.
He faces Ralph Beckett’s Qirat, who defeated him by a neck in a surprising renewal of the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, with Audience entered for John and Thady Gosden after finishing fourth in the race last year.
Never So Brave, winner of the Buckingham Palace Stakes and the Summer Mile at Ascot, is due to run for Andrew Balding, with Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie the sole French runner.
William Haggas’ Lake Forest, Stuart Williams’ Quinault, Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony and Mick Appleby’s Annaf are all in the mix, as is Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly.
The Sky Bet Ebor has attracted two runners from Willie Mullins’ stable in Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond, with last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead represented by Ascending as he looks to retain the trophy.
The Gosdens’ French Master, O’Brien’s London City and Roger Varian’s Shadow Dance are among the leading hopes from Flat stables.
In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, it is Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit who heads the market at present, with the Gosden-trained Bowmark and Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza also popular.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2.73170592-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-08-21 10:23:172025-08-21 10:23:17Rosallion heads 11 contenders for City of York title
Air Force One is surely capable of bagging a big sprint before the season is out after his good run in the York opener.
He was all dressed up with nowhere to go two furlongs from home, allowing the eventual winner Trefor to get first run.
However, when eventually he did get in the clear he flew home into third. The handicapper cannot put him up too much and there should be plenty of options before the season is out.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2.81304132-1.jpg11762351Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-08-20 16:45:542025-08-20 16:45:54York Eyecatcher Air Force One can take flight
Minnie Hauk bids to win a fourth different Oaks in the Pertemps Network-sponsored Yorkshire version on Thursday.
Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly has been outstanding so far this season, collecting three successive Oaks titles starting with the Listed Cheshire contest, before adding Classic strikes in both the Epsom and Curragh editions.
Now she turns her attention to the Knavesmire, with only three rivals opting to take her on in the mile-and-a-half Group One – including Ribblesdale-winning stablemate Garden Of Eden.
“This was always the obvious place to bring Minnie Hauk after the Curragh and she seems in good form since then,” said O’Brien.
“The trip and ground are perfect for her and since the Irish Oaks everything has gone well with her.
“Garden Of Eden won the Ribblesdale and then we sent her for the German Oaks but that didn’t work out.
“She was drawn very badly and she just never really got into it, it never happened.”
Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen was eighth behind Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom, the only real blip in a consistent career thus far that includes a Group Two success in the Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp last time out.
“Qilin Queen is a lovely filly who has done nothing wrong in her career,” the trainer said.
“The Oaks was the only bad run in her career and I think you can put that down to the soft ground and she probably wasn’t that happy on the track.
“However, on top of the ground she’s really not put a foot wrong and we know she stays the trip well.
“She will have to step forward significantly to challenge this lot, but she’s entitled to.”
David O’Meara’s Estrange is the other British-trained entrant, a striking grey who has won both starts this season when taking the Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes and then the Lancashire Oaks.
She steps up to the top level, although connections are prepared to make a late call on her participation on the Knavesmire, eager to ensure an easier surface for the four-year-old.
“We’ll have a chat to connections tonight and see what they think,” said O’Meara at York on Wednesday.
“I walked it on Monday and I thought they had put plenty of water on and it felt good to soft. The (slow) times (today) could be a little bit of headwind affecting them as much as anything else but I thought they had watered very well.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2.80534559-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-08-20 16:20:042025-08-20 16:20:04Minnie Hauk at concert pitch for Yorkshire Oaks date
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