Tag Archive for: York

Strike Red regains Sprint Trophy with convincing victory

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Strike Red has been touted as a potential Group horse after landing the Coral Sprint Trophy for the second time in three years at York.

The six-year-old, trained by Richard Fahey, won this race in 2022 when claiming a three-quarter length success over Hyperfocus under the hands of Billy Garritty.

That jockey was reunited with the son of Dark Angel in his favourable soft-ground conditions over six furlongs at the Knavesmire.

Garritty ensured his mount was prominent in the 21-runner field and positioned himself behind early front-runners Germanic and Sergeant Wilko on the inside rail.

He made his move just after the two-furlong marker and immediately stretched clear of his rivals.

The fast-finishing Room Service, who went off as the 11-2 favourite, closed the gap to three-quarters of a length, but Strike Red reclaimed his title at a price of 6-1.

Garritty has now ridden the last four of Strike Red’s eight career victories and he believes the bay gelding is capable of stepping up in class.

Strike Red after winning the Coral Sprint Trophy at York
Strike Red has won the Sprint Trophy on his last two starts in the race (Josh Luckhurst/PA)

“He’s been magnificent for me and the yard,” Garritty said. “All credit to the governor (Fahey) and Robin (O’Ryan, assistant trainer), because he had a bad injury last year, an injury that really wasn’t seen on any Flat horses, more so jumpers – and this year, he’s been better than ever.

“Things haven’t worked out for him in a few races, but he was brought out easily enough and won easily.

“The way he moves through a race, I always tell the governor, he’s probably a Group horse. There he put it to bed pretty easily and there were top-end handicappers there and he found it quite easy.

“Based on that form, it’s something to look forward to. It was smooth, but when you are on the best horse, it is always smooth.”



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Minstrel Knight provides perfect Finale with York victory

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Ed Bethell’s Minstrel Knight continued a fruitful season when winning the valuable William Hill Finale Handicap at York.

The three-year-old has not been out of the money all season and got his head in front last time out when taking a one-mile-six-furlong handicap at Haydock by five lengths.

After clearly handling the extended trip and heavy ground on that occasion, the gelding lined up on the Knavesmire under Aidan Keeley a 7-1 chance to take on the same trip, in a race worth £51,540 to the winner.

Once again he stayed on best of all, switching to take a path along the inside rail ahead of the final furlong and then remaining resolute at the head of affairs to score by two and a half lengths from Filibustering.

“It’s a nice prize to win, he’s been really consistent,” said Bethell.

“He’s a really fun horse and he loves this type of ground. We gave him a summer holiday and one of the owners had this race in mind, I probably didn’t as I didn’t give the horse as much respect as he deserved!

“He’s done that really well, he stays and he likes the ground. He’s in the horses in training sale, but he’s clearly a pretty talented stayer on this type of ground.

“We could look for something else if we decide to keep going, we might look at the November Handicap, but that could still be a bit sharp for him over a mile and a half.

“There’s a lovely race at Musselburgh next year for 100 grand, four-year-olds and upwards, he could slip into that unexposed. That could be a plan.”



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Mirabeau proves bargain buy after valuable York victory

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Dominic Ffrench Davis’ Mirabeau showed a great deal of promise when striking in the British EBF £100,000 Final at York.

The two-year-old came into the race already a winner, having taken a Brighton maiden last time out by a comprehensive three and a half lengths.

That run was clearly a more accurate reflection of his ability than his well-beaten debut at Newbury in May and under Daniel Tudhope he lined up an 8-1 chance on the Knavesmire.

The grey enjoyed the soft ground and progressed gradually through the field of 14 to prevail by a convincing length and a quarter from Hugo Palmer’s Stratusnine.

“I always thought whatever he did this year would be a bonus,” said Ffrench Davis.

“We thought he’d win first time out at Newbury and he was the last horse off the bridle but ended up being beaten by most of them.

“He scoped badly afterwards and it took us a long time to get him 100 per cent, I think he’s come on for his Brighton run.

“It was a good performance here today, I think he likes to get his toe in the ground and he stays well.

“The dam (Lubinka) won over a mile and a half and was rated 100, we only gave £23,000 for him at Doncaster sales and he’s repaid us already.

“I’d probably put him away now, we’ll see how he comes out of it. When you have a horse in form, it’s always tempting to go again, but that might not be the right thing to do.”

John and Sean Quinn’s Empirestateofmind was a winner for the first time since 2022 when taking the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Autumn Handicap.

The six-year-old has been lightly raced this season, turning up for three valuable handicaps but coming home empty handed each time, including in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last time out.

On returning to his local track, he was a 14-1 chance under Jason Hart, and as the race developed it turned into a tussle between Thunder Roar and the Quinn-trained runner.

The latter horse just prevailed by a nose and could now head to Ascot next weekend, should he make the cut for the Balmoral Handicap.

“It’s good to have him back, we thought he’d run a race in the Cambridgeshire but he was drawn down the middle and he always needs a run,” said John Quinn.

“He actually benefits from racing, even when he’s as fit as he can be, he just benefits from a run.

“First time out, he’s always a fair way off, I’m delighted for the owner (Ross Harmon) because he’s a great supporter.

“He’s in the Balmoral; he might not get in, but if he does, he’ll go there.”

Fondo Blanco at York (Molly Hunter/PA)

Kevin Ryan’s End Of Story came out on top in the Parsonage Hotel And Cloisters Spa Nursery Handicap over five furlongs, succeeding by a length and a quarter with King’s Call behind him and Fuji Mountain a further neck back in third – all of whom started at the same price as the 11-2 co-favourites.

Tim Easterby’s Copper Knight may not have won the race named in his honour, the Copper Knight – Winning Most Horse At York Handicap, but his stablemate Vince L’Amour nobly did the honours on his behalf.

Ridden by Hart after his earlier success aboard Empirestateofmind, the 14-1 shot crossed the line a length and a quarter ahead as Copper Knight was sixth.

Fondo Blanco looks a name to remember after winning the William Hill EBF Novice Stakes for King Power Racing and Roger Varian.

The colt hinted at his ability when third on debut at Newbury and came forward from that run under Ray Dawson to triumph by three-quarters of a length as the 4-5 favourite.



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Quinault keeps up winning momentum at York

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Prolific sprinter Quinault took his win tally into double figures when making all to land the Starman At Tally Ho Stud Garrowby Stakes at York.

The Stuart Williams-trained four-year-old scored seven times last season and arrived at the Knavesmire chasing a Listed-class hat-trick this term following August strikes at Chester and Newmarket.

Marco Ghiani pushed 6-4 favourite Quinault into an early lead and worked his way across to grab the favoured stands rail, from where he controlled the race and kept on well enough to see off Purosangue and Oisin Murphy by a neck.

Ghiani told Racing TV: “He’s a very nice horse, he’s got the will to win and he always puts his best foot forward.

“Before the race, I thought that Oisin and the other horse would come to attack me late, so I was going a bit easy on him until the last furlong.

“Obviously, it’s not his ground but when they came to me, he was always going to stick his head in front.

“I went to walk the track beforehand to see what the far side was like and obviously it was the worst side, so I said to Stuart I think we need to edge across and he gave me the green light.

York Races – Sunday September 8th
Jockey Marco Ghiani after riding Quinault to victory (Mike Egerton/PA).

“He’s doing really well, he’s growing up mentally – and physically he’s getting stronger and stronger. We’re very pleased with him, he’s going the right way and hopefully the future holds something nice for him.”

Williams could even set his sights on the top sprinters, adding: “Vadream finished fourth yesterday (in the Betfair Sprint Cup) and she was third behind us at Newmarket, beaten about the same distance, so there’s not a lot in it.

“But we’ve still got next year with him, he hasn’t got a lot of miles on the clock and he’s a big, strong horse.”

Windlord looked like a colt with a bright future when powering clear for a wide-margin win in the British European Breeders Fund Novice Stakes.

Andrew Balding’s juvenile had shown promise in a couple of hot Sandown contests and seemed to benefit from a two-month absence to strengthen up when storming home by five and a half lengths from Shah.

York Races – Sunday September 8th
Windlord and Oisin Murphy on their way to winning at York (Mike Egerton/PA).

The 6-5 scorer is certainly bred for the job, being by Dubawi and out of a daughter of the great French mare Goldikova.

He has some high-class entries, including the Royal Lodge, and successful rider Murphy was suitably impressed.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse; a little bit sleepy, you could see he was keen to look right towards the stands’ rail.

“But then he straightened up late on and he hit the line well. He’s a very well-bred horse and he has a nice future.

“On his work at home, Andrew and Barry Mahon (racing manager for owners Juddmonte) always felt he was a nice horse in the making.”

York Races – Sunday September 8th
Brighton Boy (right) winning with Oisin Murphy on board (Mike Egerton/PA).

Murphy further strengthened his position at the top of the jockeys’ championship when partnering Balding’s 6-5 favourite Brighton Boy to victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Nursery Handicap.

Having topped the table in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he is on course to regain the title.

“They were quite a long time ago now, when I was young and things came easy to me,” said the rider, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday.

“It was difficult to start from scratch but obviously thanks go to Qatar (Racing) and Andrew in particular.”



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Extensio heading back over hurdles after York success

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Popular York winner Extensio could revert to hurdles on his next start after Pat O’Donnell ruled out a tilt at the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

The seven-year-old sparked wild scenes of celebration on the Knavesmire last week after landing a valuable staying handicap on the opening day of the Ebor Festival for his small-time Irish trainer.

O’Donnell nominated Royal Ascot next summer as his dream target in the immediate aftermath, but Extensio did win on his only previous outing over obstacles at Roscommon in August and a return to the jumping game is now under consideration.

“It’s taken us a week to come back down to earth, but we’re back to normal now thank God,” said the Limerick-based trainer.

“He’s come out of it well, but I’m not going to go to the English Cesarewitch. I didn’t have to think about it too much really, I had a good chat with Joey (Sheridan, jockey) yesterday and we’re going to stick to the original plan of working back from Royal Ascot.

“There’s a winner’s hurdle at Listowel at the end of next month and that’s the way I’m thinking. I just feel if he got into a slog in the Cesarewitch with the likes of the Emmet Mullins horse that won it last year (The Shunter), those dyed in the wool stayers, I just wouldn’t like to do that with him yet.

“The funny thing is, if we’d just been placed in York, we might have gone on to Newmarket and I may even have let my daughter ride him and we could pick up some prize-money, but he won with such authority at York I just think we’re into a different league now and I want to mind him a bit more.”

While keen to see how his stable star performs on his next start before making any definite plans, O’Donnell admits the thought of running at the Cheltenham Festival has crossed his mind.

He added: “At the moment I’m thinking we’ll just slip in the odd run. He hasn’t got a handicap mark over hurdles as I haven’t entered him in a handicap hurdle yet, so we’ll see how he runs next time.

“Of course Cheltenham would be in our thinking. It did Absurde and Henry de Bromhead’s filly who won the Ebor (Magical Zoe) no harm, so you’d never rule it out and Cheltenham comes up lively enough these days, so it is a consideration.

“We’ll see how it goes and play it by ear. Listowel is an important meeting to the people in the south part of Ireland, but we’ll do the best by the horse.”



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Ambiente Friendly in good shape following York disappointment

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James Fanshawe reports Ambiente Friendly to be “nice and bright” a week on from his disappointing run in the Juddmonte International.

Having found only City Of Troy too strong in the Derby at Epsom and then finishing third behind Los Angeles in the Irish equivalent, hopes were high ahead of a much-anticipated rematch with the former over a mile and a quarter at York.

However, while City Of Troy confirmed his status as the best middle-distance horse in Europe with a front-running victory in a course-record time, Ambiente Friendly pulled fiercely for his head before weakening out of contention, eventually passing the post a well-beaten 10th of 13 runners.

In a stewards’ report, Fanshawe explained the son of Gleneagles had got his tongue over the bit and made a respiratory noise, but the star colt is none the worse for the experience.

“He’s really well actually, he’s come out of the race in good form,” said the Pegasus Stables handler on Wednesday.

“He came out of the race well and was back doing two canters this morning. He seems nice and bright.”

Reflecting on his York performance, Fanshawe added: “He was keen and didn’t relax and never really got into it.”

Trainer James Fanshawe at Newmarket
Trainer James Fanshawe at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Ambiente Friendly holds big-race entries in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The trainer will consult his owners the Gredley family before making any concrete plans.

He said: “Obviously we’ve got plenty of options, so we’ll just see how he is over the next few days and I’ll have a chat with Bill and Tim (Gredley) and see where we’re going.”



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International options under consideration for Alflaila

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Owen Burrows could consider options abroad for Alflaila after he failed to fire in last week’s Juddmonte International at York.

Having successfully defended his crown in the York Stakes over the course and distance on his previous start, the Shadwell-owned five-year-old lined up as for what was billed as the race of the season on the Knavesmire, but a slow start set the tone for a disappointing display.

Alflaila trailed home 12th of 13 runners, beaten some 24 lengths by the brilliant winner City Of Troy, and Burrows may now look to lower his sights after ruling out a second tilt at the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month.

“Alflaila just had one of his days. He’s done it before in the past, he can be slow away, and you can’t be giving them a head-start in races like that,” said the trainer.

“Ryan (Moore) got his fractions spot-on (on City Of Troy) and horses didn’t come back and Alflaila likes to pass horses, so Jim (Crowley) didn’t give him a hard time once he knew it wasn’t happening.

“We’ll see where we go from here, there’s a few options about, possibly not in this country.

“He won’t go to Ireland as it doesn’t really suit him round Leopardstown, so we’ll look elsewhere.”

Another horse for the Shadwell-Burrows combination who failed to run up to expectations at the Ebor Festival was Alyanaabi, who similarly failed to land a telling blow in the Strensall Stakes.

The three-year-old was fifth in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes earlier in the season, but subsequently finished fourth as a hot favourite for Newbury’s Steventon Stakes and came home last of nine at York.

Burrows added: “Alyanaabi is going to get a full MOT and go back to Shadwell for a break because his last two runs have been very disappointing and something is not quite right.

“We’ll finish him for the year and get him checked out and look forward to him coming back next year.”



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Lake Forest lined up for Haydock or Doncaster redemption

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Lake Forest is set for a stalls test but is none the worse after his late withdrawal from the City of York Stakes on Saturday.

The three-year-old was a 7-2 chance for the Group Two event but became unsettled in the stalls and had to be scratched as the rest of the field went without him.

Thankfully, the William Haggas-trained chestnut is largely unscathed after the incident but connections are bemused as to just what it was that upset him.

He will now undergo a stalls test before looking to finish off what has otherwise been a successful season, although quick ground will be essential if he is to take up entries in either the Sprint Cup at Haydock or the Park Stakes at Doncaster.

“He’s just got a few scratches and bruises but he’s fine, it came as a big surprise to all of us,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom.

“He’s never shown any tendency to play up in the stalls and it’s not as if any of the horses beside him were kicking off.

“I don’t know whether the wind hit the stalls and made them rattle, we’ve no idea what prompted him to do what he did.

“He’s got a stalls test at Chelmsford on Saturday, touch wood that will be OK and then he will have a couple of options over the next few weeks.

“There’s a race at Haydock for him and then a race for him at Doncaster the following Saturday.

“We still have a few options, but in two weeks at Haydock the ground could be heavy and we do really need quick ground.

“He’s in a race in America as well but I think we’d only go there if there was really no chance of us getting good ground here before the end of the season.”



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Alfa Kellenic plans currently up in the air

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Craig Lidster is pondering his options for stable star Alfa Kellenic after she brought up a fabulous five-timer at York.

Since shedding her maiden status on the all-weather in January, she has thrived after being sent handicapping this summer, rising through the ranks and scoring off a mark of 88 on the Knavesmire.

The Ebor Festival success marked the biggest victory in Easingwold handler Lidster’s fledgling training career but he is now dreaming of further big days with the three-year-old filly, who is owned by the Goodracingco in partnership with familiar names Paul Hanagan and Simon Mapletoft.

She holds an entry for next month’s Ayr Gold Cup and a trip north of the border is definitely under consideration for the daughter of Havana Grey, but having showed her versatility by striking up at seven furlongs, connections could consider a step up in grade in search of valuable black type.

Lidster said: “We think a lot of the filly and we’ve brought her along progressively. She’s done nothing wrong and we think she’s talented and we might have to aim at black type now.

“The Ayr Gold Cup was a target but we will probably have a look at the whole of the programme now, rather than having to look totally at the Ayr Gold Cup. It’s not impossible we will run in it, we’re just sitting on our hands a little until we see where to go.

Alfa Kellenic after a victory at York earlier this summer
Alfa Kellenic after a victory at York earlier this summer (Josh Luckhurst/PA)

“You can’t sniff at the Ayr Gold Cup and it’s a £250,000 race, or do we go down the black type route as quick as possible.

“She’s still got a handicap mark there to finish off, but a lot will come down to what the lads want to do. I will have my opinion, but they will have their opinions as well.

“There is a Group Three at Doncaster over seven (which is a possible option) but we will cross bridges like that when we come to it. We’re going to reconvene next week and see which way we want to go.”



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Goldream receives royal attention as the Queen makes York visit

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The Queen “seemed very keen” to stroke former sprint star Goldream as she attended day four of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, the founder of a horse charity has said.

Camilla cut the ribbon to open the racecourse’s new Bustardthorpe development before walking through the stand and speaking with racegoers and officials.

Dressed in pale blue, the Queen met members of the Falcons Display Team and watched the action with racing manager John Warren on Saturday.

After the first race, she made her way to the pre-parade ring to see her horse, Reaching High, parade ahead of the Sky Bet Melrose Stakes, in which he finished 15th of 16 runners.

The Queen meeting Goldream at York on Saturday
The Queen meeting Goldream at York on Saturday (Molly Hunter/PA)

Following that, she crossed over the track to meet Kevin and Pam Atkinson, founders of the charity New Beginnings, who retrain ex-racehorses for new careers – for example, in dressage.

There she met Goldream, a dual Group One winner during a 53-race career and the equine ambassador to the racecourse, and another multiple Listed and Group Three victor Nearly Caught, spending time stroking them both.

Ms Atkinson said: “We were delighted to meet the Queen and introduce her to Remy (Goldream) and Nearly Caught (Nico).

The Queen with the connections of Ebor winner Magical Zoe
The Queen with the connections of Ebor winner Magical Zoe (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’ve been working with York Racecourse for 14 years so for the Queen to come and acknowledge our work was fantastic, she seemed very keen to stroke Remy!”

The Queen also presented the trophy for the Sky Bet Ebor, which went to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Magical Zoe.

The Bustardthorpe Stand has undergone refurbishment as part of a multi-million-pound investment from York, with a new lawn and canopy also constructed as part of the works.



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Magical Zoe claims Ebor glory in style

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Magical Zoe delighted favourite backers with a clear-cut victory in the Sky Bet Ebor at York.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare has run well at each of the last two Cheltenham Festivals, filling the runner-up spot in the 2023 Mares Novices’ Hurdle before finishing fourth behind last year’s Ebor hero Absurde in the County Hurdle in March.

Having since switched to the Flat, with a maiden success at Down Royal sandwiched by two creditable effort in stakes company, Magical Zoe was the 11-2 market leader for her the £500,000 feature on the fourth and final day of the Ebor Festival and ultimately won comprehensively.

After being settled in midfield for much of the one-mile-six-furlong contest, the six-year-old was produced with her challenge down the centre of the track by Billy Lee in the straight and was in front racing inside the final two furlongs.

The result was not really in any doubt thereafter as Magical Zoe galloped all the way to the line to score comfortably by two and three-quarter lengths, ensuring one of Britain’s most prestigious Flat handicaps went to Ireland for the third time in four years following the recent triumphs of Johnny Murtagh’s Sonnyboyliston in 2021 and the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde 12 months ago.

De Bromhead said: “It’s great, I’m delighted for the lads (owners Patrick and Scott Bryceland), they came up with the idea of coming here and what a brilliant idea it was. It’s just worked out really well.

“She won it well, Billy was brilliant on her.”

The trainer added: “I don’t know what to say! It’s amazing, it’s a race you grow up watching and I never dreamt I could win – here we are. We’ve won it and it’s incredible.

“It’s an amazing race. The lads were always keen to go on the Flat. Alex Elliott, who bought her for them, has been keen to go ever since they’ve had her.

“We were going to go last year but it wasn’t really fitting as she had a tough old season, this year it has just worked out brilliantly. The guys said ‘we’ll start at the Ebor and work our way back’ and that’s what we did, it’s incredible that it’s come to fruition.

Magical Zoe leads the way in the Sky Bet Ebor at York
Magical Zoe leads the way in the Sky Bet Ebor at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We had to have our three runs on the Flat and we were slightly on the back foot with that, you had to have them by July 20 but it all fell into place. It’s amazing, with good horses everything is just made a fraction easier.

“I love training good horses, training winners is what we want but to come to a big meeting like this is just brilliant. It’s the stuff of dreams.”

Of a potential tilt at the Melbourne Cup, De Bromhead said: “We have a win-and-you’re-in (entry) for Melbourne, so now we have to really start talking about that!”

Kihavah filled the runner-up spot in the Ebor
Kihavah filled the runner-up spot in the Ebor (Tim Goode/PA)

Adrian Keatley was delighted with the performance of the 25-1 runner-up Kihavah, saying: “He’s a great horse and does brilliant things for our yard. Hopefully he’s around for a long time.

“The winner won well, but we ran a brilliant race and are delighted. The mile and six stretches his stamina and that’s as far as he wants to be going.”

Ian Williams said of the third placed Oneforthegutter: “I never expected him to get in off his mark, but he has run a huge race.

“He and Joe (Fanning) have just gelled together and ultimately just got outstayed. It was a huge performance and a little bit better than the what we were expecting.”

The race was marred by a fatal injury to Crystal Delight, who appeared to go wrong and unseated Tom Marquand when in the lead.

Trainer Harry Eustace told ITV Racing: “Everyone involved with Crystal Delight is totally and completely heartbroken. He was the most noble and kind warrior you could ever meet. We will miss him.”



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Breege springs 33-1 surprise in City of York

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John and Sean Quinn’s admirable filly Breege ran out a shock 33-1 winner of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

With dual victor Kinross taken out on Saturday morning due to unsuitable ground, a quality field of seven went to post for the seven-furlong Group Two, but that number was further reduced after second-favourite Lake Forest reared in the stalls and had to be withdrawn.

His defection appeared to present Lockinge and Lennox Stakes winner Audience with a gilt-edged opportunity to claim another big-race victory, but the race did not go to script.

Just as he did at Goodwood last month, the 4-7 market leader took a lead off Art Power for much of the way, but this time he was unable to kick clear of his rivals.

Instead, Colin Keane produced Breege to lead inside the final furlong and she stuck to her guns to claim the lion’s share of the £500,000 prize fund by a length and a half from Vafortino.

Shouldvebeenaring was just a head further behind in third, with Audience unable to pick up and having to make do with a slightly disappointing fourth place.

Keane said: “Beforehand we were basically riding to be third and trying to pick up as much prize-money as possible. I thought it would unfold as it did, with Art Power going along and there would be plenty of pace. I thought we’d pick up as much as we could and we got the lot!

“He (Lake Forest) was next door to us and she didn’t bat an eyelid when he nearly came over on top of us, so she obviously has a very good mind. It was a true-run race and when she got between them, she really came alive and quickened away well.”

Trainer Sean Quinn at York
Trainer Sean Quinn at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sean Quinn, who trains Breege in partnership with his father, revealed the success was not a total surprise to the camp.

He said: “We worked her on Monday morning and she worked particularly well, John said that was the best he’s ever seen her work. This probably wasn’t the plan at that stage, but he said we’ll take her down the road as there’s a heap of money on offer and we’re going to try to get as much of it as we can.

“She was our first Group winner since we joined the licence (when winning the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom in June) and to do that today is pretty special. She’s very important to the yard and it’s important to be competitive on the big days.

“Colin has had three or four rides for us and he won the Boomerang on Irish Champions Weekend on Safe Voyage, so we’ve had a lot of luck with him. He’s fantastic, Jason (Hart) is our stable jockey but unfortunately it didn’t work out today. He went to Goodwood to ride a favourite for us in a Group race and it didn’t pan out, but he’ll be back on her very shortly.

“All the big seven-furlong races (will be considered), she’s not in the Foret but we might have to speak to her owners about supplementing her for it.”



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Tabletalk delights Clover with Melrose strike

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Tabletalk finished with a flourish to claim top honours in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap at York.

Although down the field as a 100-1 shot for the Derby in early June, Tom Clover’s Chelmsford maiden winner proved he remains a colt of some promise when third on his handicap debut at Ascot last month.

He faced a step up in trip and class on the Knavesmire, but proved more than up to the task under a well-timed ride from Rossa Ryan.

Never too far off the pace, the 12-1 chance saw out the one-mile-six-furlong trip well to score by a length and a quarter from Aidan O’Brien’s The Equator.

Clover said: “That was extremely pleasing. He looked the winner the whole way round. He’d been shaping up nicely at home and he seems to be improving.

“I was thrilled to see him handle the ground so well, as that was a slight question mark for me, and he stayed on strong over the trip.

“He’s a very exciting prospect. It’s great for the whole team at home who’ve worked very hard. He ran in the Derby and that was a really tough experience so we gave him a bit of time, he’s a big horse and I think he’ll make up into a lovely four-year-old.

“He has a very patient owner who let me train him where we wanted to go. He ran a very good race at Ascot last time and he’s come to himself nicely.”

Elmonjed took a step forward to land the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

The gelding, who is owned and bred by Shadwell, benefited from the application of blinkers when winning at Windsor last time out in a six-furlong handicap.

Over the same trip at York as the 7-2 favourite under Tom Marquand, the bay began to make swift progress a furlong from home and put his head down to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s very tough, the team have put the headgear on him because previously everyone felt he was just idling,” said Angus Gold of Shadwell.

“We thought it would help him concentrate, he’s a horse who has always hit a flat spot in his races and then has stayed on as if he wants seven (furlongs).

“He’s won twice at six now and he’s by Blue Point, so I guess we’ll stay at six for the time being but I wouldn’t be amazed if he got further in the future.

“We’ll take it one step at a time, he’s not the biggest horse in the world but we’ll probably see if he’s good enough for a little black-type race somewhere.”

Sky Bet Ebor Festival – York Racecourse – Saturday August 24th
Tropical Storm and Oisin Murphy (Mike Egerton/PA)

Andrew Balding’s Tropical Storm struck to take the Julia Graves Roses Stakes under Oisin Murphy as the 5-2 favourite.

The two-year-old demonstrated his ability when second in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, a race in which he came home a length behind Karl Burke’s Shareholder.

He did not shed his maiden tag in the six-furlong Richmond at Goodwood last time out when finishing eighth, but back over the minimum trip, he made light work of his 15 rivals to win by a neck.

“It’s a nice way to break his maiden, we’ve just been learning a bit about him,” said Balding.

“We’ve always liked the look of him, he did too much in the Richmond at Goodwood and just didn’t get home, so for obvious reasons we’ve come back to five.

“He’s a half sister to Purosangue and she was second in this race last year, so they’re a talented family and they’re all about speed.

“I think we’ll stay at five furlongs, there’s a nice programme for him through the rest of the season.”

The concluding Sky Bet Finale Handicap was claimed by Brandon Wilkie and the popular Sir Busker, a prior winner of the York Stakes who led home stablemate Dual Identity over the same course and distance after the two horses started as 14-1 and 15-2 chances respectively.



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See The Fire too hot for Strensall rivals

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Oisin Murphy delivered See The Fire with a swooping late challenge to secure a deserved big-race victory in the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York.

Although winless since making a successful debut on Newmarket’s July Course last summer, Andrew Balding’s filly has run several fine races in defeat in good company since.

The daughter of Sea The Stars rounded off her juvenile campaign with placed efforts in the May Hill and the Fillies’ Mile – and while she was well beaten on her return in the 1000 Guineas, she performed creditably in the Coronation Stakes, the Eclipse and when runner-up to Opera Singer in the Nassau.

Stepping down in trip and class for this nine-furlong Group Three, See The Fire had only Alyanaabi behind her at the top of the home straight, but soon began to weave her way through the field.

Murphy spotted a gap on the far rail inside the final furlong and his mount had more than enough in the tank to take it, quickening up smartly to grab the lead before pulling a length and three-quarters clear at the line.

Phantom Flight filled the runner-up spot, just ahead of Checkandchallenge in third.

“She was brilliant in the Nassau the last day and her work since has been great. She’s been working with older horses that are in good form and she’s been finding it very easy,” said Murphy of the 3-1 favourite.

“I wasn’t going to sit three wide on her, I wanted to get cover and maybe have horses to fill up on the back of before finding space. Arguably I was fortunate enough that it opened up on the inside, but she was very good at the line with her ears pricked.

“It’s so important, she’s out of Arabian Queen who won a Juddmonte International, she’s a homebred for Littleton Stud and I’m delighted.”

Trainer Andrew Balding
Trainer Andrew Balding (John Walton/PA)

Balding added: “We’ve always thought the world of this filly. She’s beautiful to look at, she’s always worked well and I’ve just got to thank David Elsworth for retiring when he did because I’ve reaped the rewards of having the mare’s progeny!

“David did fabulously well with the family and she (Arabian Queen) is an amazing broodmare.

“I’m delighted for Jeff (Smith) and David (Bowe) and everyone at Littleton because these owner-breeders are so important and to get this calibre of horse is special.”



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Angelo Buonarroti begins to justify hefty price tag

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Angelo Buonarroti went some way to recouping his seven-figure purchase price with a determined victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes at York.

The chestnut son of American Triple Crown hero Justify cost Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation €1,000,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up sale in May and was thrown in at the deep end when making his competitive debut in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having shaped with promise in being beaten just three lengths into ninth place, Angelo Buonarroti was a 2-1 favourite to come out on top in a maiden with a huge prize fund of £100,000 on the Knavesmire and knuckled down well under a positive ride from David Egan to score by a length and a quarter.

The winner was making his first start for Ralph Beckett after moving from Raphael Freire’s yard since his Royal Ascot outing.

“I was kind of lucky, as he got a stone bruise before the maiden at Goodwood he was supposed to run in and I had to scratch him. The extra time probably was a positive and the track suited him better than Goodwood would have done,” said Beckett.

“He’s a good horse, we kind of knew that already, it just depends on how far we go now.

“He could go a mile this year, I think it will be within his scope, but I don’t know whether he needs to yet.

“I don’t know if we’ll go straight into a Group race, we might go for the Flying Scotsman (Listed race at Doncaster) and work our way up. It just depends on how we feel.”

James Doyle got the fractions spot on as he came with a late run aboard Shadow Dance to win the opening Sky Bet Handicap.

The four-year-old had disappointed on his first run since being gelded at Royal Ascot, but bounced back to run well at Ripon last time out when touched off by Ebor contender Iron Lion.

A 6-1 shot for his latest assignment, Roger Varian’s charge dug deep to beat Lieber Power by a neck.

“Winners at the biggest meetings is what it’s all about. He’s a homebred and he’s a lovely horse. He’s got a big heart and a lot of stamina, and he needed every inch of the trip today,” said Varian.

“We came into the year very hopeful with this horse, he didn’t have a great spring and I ran him at Royal Ascot in the Duke of Edinburgh, he wasn’t quite right that day.

“But the run at Ripon was a step in the right direction, and he should go on and have a good autumn.”

Ed Walker continued his brilliant week in North Yorkshire by landing the Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap with Canoodled.

The six-year-old was stepping up to a mile and a quarter for the first time on the Knavesmire and it seemed to do the trick as the 25-1 shot won by a length and a half under Billy Loughnane.

Walker, recording his third winner of this year’s Ebor Festival following a double on Thursday, said of his latest success: “It was amazing, a real pleasant surprise. She’s a funny filly, she’s quirky and a bit of rain last night helped. She was going up in trip and she jumped, so it’s great.

“We will try and get some black type in the autumn with her, like we did last year.

“We’ve had an amazing couple of days, it’s sort of pinch yourself stuff really. It is one of the hardest meetings in the world, so it’s amazing.”

Treasure Time finished with a flourish to provide proud Yorkshireman William Haggas with a birthday winner in the concluding Sky Bet Mile Handicap.

Volterra and Mount Teide were the two to the fore as the race heated up inside the final two furlongs, but Tom Marquand decided to play his cards late aboard 13-2 shot Treasure Time and it paid off, with the three-year-old powering home to get up and beat the former by a length.

Haggas, opening his account for the week on his 64th birthday, said: “I felt he had a nice trip today, everything went smoothly and I thought he did well to win. He finished well, he stayed the mile well and I’m very pleased.

“He’s a bonny horse, he’s not very big but he has a great brain. He doesn’t need any training now he’s fit, he’s a great performer.

“It’s been an awful week. I’m really pleased with that, but it’s been a tough week for us.”



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