Tag Archive for: York

Pride Of Arras returns to form with Voltigeur victory

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Pride Of Arras made a brilliant return to the scene of his finest hour to claim a Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in which dual Derby hero Lambourn misfired.

An impressive winner of the Dante on the Knavesmire earlier in the season, Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras had proven no match for Aidan O’Brien’s Lambourn in both the Derby and Irish equivalent earlier in the season.

Sent off 12-1 in his first outing since being gelded, Rossa Ryan was in no rush as the 4-5 favourite Lambourn was immediately gunned to the front by Ryan Moore to keep close tabs on stablemate Thrice, who was undertaking pace-making duties.

However, unlike in his two Classic triumphs, Lambourn was unable to shrug off his rivals and with the pack swarming, it was Pride Of Arras who hit top gear up at the right time up the long home straight to return a length verdict over Paddy Twomey’s previously unbeaten Carmers.

Lambourn ended up a well-held fifth, with William Haggas’ Arabian Force another to stay on from the rear to take third ahead of Ballydoyle’s Stay True.

Beckett said of the winner: “He was back to his best, all good.

“I actually brought him here slightly underdone, having gelded him at the beginning of July, the week after the Irish Derby. It’s seven weeks on, but I’ve only really done maintenance stuff with him – I haven’t turned the screw with him – slightly because that seemed to suit him the last time we brought him here, and also because I wanted him to run well more than anything else.

“Really we came here with no expectation, but I think the track and the flat nature of York suits him really well. I wasn’t at all happy with the way he moved in the first half-mile at the Curragh, which isn’t exactly undulating anyway. He just wasn’t enjoying himself that day any more than he was at Epsom. After that it was a very easy decision to geld him.

“He’s never been difficult at home and it’s not just the gelding (that’s made the difference) as he suffers respiratory issues as well and that hasn’t helped. It certainly wasn’t helping in the spring and these things are never one specific thing, there’s always layers.”

With Pride Of Arras now not eligible to run in the St Leger or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Beckett is ready to consider targets further afield, including a possible trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

“I think this place suits him, which sorts of gives us a steer and we’ll probably end up having to travel him, but I wouldn’t be averse to that as I think he’s a different horse now and you could see that today,” the Kimpton Downs handler added.

“I would be tempted to think about California (Breeders’ Cup) and Hong Kong for him. I think the nature of those races will suit him really well.”

Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

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Gewan was a game winner of the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes for Andrew Balding and PJ McDonald at York.

The grey was a 11-2 chance in the seven-furlong Group Three, and ran prominently from the off when racing in the slipstream of the leader May Angel in the early stages.

In the last two furlongs the colt began to progress, and in the final furlong he established a lead that he then fought hard to maintain as Aidan O’Brien’s Italy, the eventual runner-up, sought to gain ground before going down by a length and a half.

Charlie Appleby’s Distant Storm, the 11-10 favourite, pulled hard throughout the race and was eventually third.

Balding said: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked from the moment he came into the yard and he was very well bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for not big money really (€80,000).

“He’s a son of Night Of Thunder who has done everything right since the first day and we liked the way he won at Newbury and we were always keen to come here.

“I think PJ was quite taken by him and his attitude and maybe felt he had a little more left.

“I think he’ll stay a mile no problem next year but we’ll probably stick at seven this year.”

Paddy Power make Gewan an 8-1 shot for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and Balding added: “It’s possible he could head to the Dewhurst next.

“There’s a lot of two-year-old races to be run between now and then, anything is possible at the moment. I don’t know if we’ve any better than him but other people probably have, so we’ll see how things play out.”

Italy could also be handed a Group One target in the future, with O’Brien satisfied with his performance.

He said: “He ran very well and he’s a lovely, big horse. Ryan (Moore) said he jumped a little bit slow and the horse that jumped in front of him took him an inch or two back further than he wanted to be.

“Ryan said he had to expose him very early, but he ran a very good race, he’s a lovely horse in the making and he will progress.

“There’s many options for him. We had the choice of running here or in the Futurity Stakes (at the Curragh) and obviously we picked to come here. From the Futurity you can go to the National Stakes, but it depends what happens with the others.”

Trefor enters Ayr Gold Cup reckoning after York success

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Charlie Hills is eyeing a possible tilt at the Ayr Gold Cup with Trefor following his narrow victory in the opening race of the Ebor Festival at York.

The four-year-old won at Doncaster and Ripon earlier this season and having been narrowly denied by Chief Mankato on his most recent appearance in a valuable event at Windsor nine days ago, he was a 7-1 shot for the curtain-raising Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap on the Knavesmire.

He was all dressed up with nowhere to go two furlongs out, but once Kieran Shoemark got him into the clear and set about chasing The Man, he always looked likely to reel him in.

Air Force One was not so lucky and had to wait longer for a gap, finishing fast for third, beaten a head and half a length.

Hills said: “I’m delighted to get his head in front, he deserved that. He was a bit unlucky not to win last week and he was well-in really.

“I liked the draw today (stall seven), I think low numbers are always quite handy earlier on in this week and he travelled away like a really nice horse.

“The Ayr Gold Cup is an obvious step from here, but the key to him is fast ground, so we just need to keep an eye on that.”

Santorini Star (100-30 favourite) returned to winning ways in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Wins at Brighton and Goodwood earlier in the season were followed by defeats at Pontefract and Fairyhouse, but the step up to two miles brought out plenty of improvement as she won by a length and a quarter from Artisan Dancer.

“She was on a really progressive route but just stalled for a couple of races,” said Marquand.

“Stepping her up to two miles maybe happened a bit more prematurely than we thought, but it suited.

“There are nice options over a mile and six (furlongs) for her but I don’t think you’ll see her back at a mile and a half again.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Star Of Mehmas (11-1) defied top-weight in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap, narrowly denying Eternal Sunshine and Luna A Inbhir Nis in a three-way finish.

Hughes said: “I hadn’t a clue if she’d got there. Ryan (Moore) said they were going frantic up front and the pace finally collapsed.

“We don’t know what happened here last time (finished eighth), she was agitated and reared up which isn’t like her.

“She’s been carrying a 3lb penalty in Listed races and just getting beat. There wasn’t the perfect five-furlong race for her, so I said let’s take a chance in a handicap that’s worth loads of money and it’s paid off.”

The Sky Bet Nursery Handicap brought the seven-race card to a close as Hugo Palmer’s Ruby’s Angel (33-1) collared Kevin Ryan’s Mo Of Cairo in the dying strides to open her account at the fifth time of asking.

Palmer said: “I went through the card in a box beforehand and gave her no chance from that draw as the draw bias at York has got so tricky.

“I just said to Saffie (Osborne, jockey) that if she jumps, just keep trying to go left handed and she probably hit the line somewhere near stall four rather than 22, so she’s given her an absolutely beautiful ride.

“Saffie observed when I picked the saddle up that we must like this filly as she’s been favourite every time and I said we do like her. York’s Ebor meeting is not the traditional place to break your maiden at the fifth time of asking but she has done it.”

Ed Walker anticipating bold Lowther show from Royal Fixation

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Ed Walker is backing Royal Fixation to defy her relative inexperience in Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday.

Owned by Opulence Thoroughbreds, Ed Walker’s youngster pushed Albany Stakes scorer Venetian Sun to within a neck in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and her team are confident they have a top-class prospect on their hands ahead of this next assignment.

“She’s done nothing but please us really and this has been the plan since Newmarket,” said Walker.

“There will be a couple in there with a bit more experience than her but that was a huge run at Newmarket on just her second start and we’re very excited about her.

“We’ve always liked her and she’s a short price in a Group Two, so she’s got to go and prove it now and there’s some very unexposed and equally very good fillies in there. So it’s far from a given, but we think she’s in good form and hopefully she can go well.”

One of those unexposed fillies Walker may have to worry about is Richard Hughes’ America Queen, who created a deep impression when romping to a 12-length Haydock success on debut.

Connections have reached for the services of Ryan Moore for the exciting €180,000 purchase who is an intriguing proposition on just her second start.

“She was very impressive at Haydock and we don’t really know what was behind her, but she was just in a different league to them that day,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.

“It’s going to be interesting and she could be absolutely anything. It can be a different thing though once stepping up to take on other quality horses and you will find out where you are.

“We’re very pleased to get Ryan Moore for a big occasion like this and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to it.”

Hughes and Abdullah will also be represented in the race by Mood Queen, while Charlie Johnston’s unbeaten Timeforshowcasing also sports the owner’s colours in the six-furlong event.

“Timeforshowcasing is another who is progressive and Charlie has always thought a lot of her,” continued Robinson.

“There’s even Mood Queen in there who has shown a nice level of form, but I think between America Queen and Timeforshowcasing we have a realistic chance of taking the race.

“With America Queen, I’m just hoping can prove she is something a little bit special – we’ll know exactly where we are this time next week.”

George Scott’s Princess Margaret Stakes runner-up Staya and Tim Easterby’s consistent Argentine Tango – last seen chasing home Lady Iman in the Molecomb at Goodwood – add further spice to an intriguing contest.

Brian Ellison fields Criterium du Bequet winner Wor Faayth, seven years after his The Mackem Bullet was agonisingly denied in the dying strides of this contest.

“She won very well last time and is a nice filly,” said Ellison.

“She’s been in great form since and I’m really happy with her. This has been the plan since La Teste De Buch and she’s a Listed winner.

“She’s a really fast filly and it’s great to have Tom (Marquand) on board, he’s top-class. I think she will run well and she’s done nothing wrong at home.

“Her work has been great, she’s a tough filly who eats well and she took her trip to France very well, so we’re very hopeful.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Dandana got the better of Karl Burke’s Pearl Fortune at Ripon recently to take her record to two from two and now both step up in grade, while similar applies to Dylan Cunha’s Windsor winner Come On Eibhlin.

Adrian Keatley’s Marygate scorer Secret Hideaway returns to the scene of her finest hour to complete the line-up.

Lady Iman leads 17-strong Nunthorpe field

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Lady Iman heads a field 17 when she bid to become the first two-year-old in 18 years to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

Ger Lyon’s youngster has dazzled throughout the current campaign and was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after advertising her claims in the Molecomb at Goodwood last time.

She is joined in a mouthwatering feature on day three of the Ebor Festival by a stellar cast of sprinting talent, with fellow Irish raiders including Adrian Murray’s Sapphire Stakes scorer Arizona Blaze and Jack Davison’s ultra-consistent stable star She’s Quality.

Australian ace Asfoora will continue her European odyssey and attempt to better last year’s fourth in this race for trainer Henry Dwyer, while Washington Heights was sixth 12 months ago and is one of two in the race for Kevin Ryan alongside Ain’t Nobody.

Ed Walker is another handler with two in the mix as he saddles both Mgheera and last year’s Lowther Stakes winner Celandine, with John and Sean Quinn putting their faith in King George Stakes winner Jm Jungle to continue his progress through the ranks at a track he knows well.

Fellow course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to the Knavesmire looking to give Richard Hughes a first win as a trainer in a race he twice conquered as a jockey, while other notable names include Michael Bell’s two-year-old Spicy Marg and Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar, who like Lady Iman have been supplemented into the contest.

Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard
Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard (David Davies/PA)

In the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes, John and Thady Gosden’s emphatic Gold Cup winner Trawlerman is the standout name in a field of six that also includes stablemate and standing dish of the staying division Sweet William.

Karl Burke’s Al Qareem brings strong course form to the table, while Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir was beaten a short head in this last year and returns to correct the record after a similar narrow defeat at Sandown last time.

A field of eight will line-up for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Walker’s Do Or Do Not has the chance for a first victory at Group level.

More Oaks glory beckons for Minnie Hauk

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Minnie Hauk can be expected to swoop on yet more prey to claim York’s Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Frankel has proved tough as teak this season and took her winning run to four when adding to her Oaks success at Epsom in the Irish equivalent last month.

Having worn down high-class stablemate Whirl – herself a dual Group one scorer since – late in the day at Epsom, Minnie Hauk again showed her staying prowess when doubling her Classic tally at the Curragh.

With O’Brien holding all the aces in this Group One he has won nine times, Minnie Hauk is his trump card and it is difficult to see any of her rivals having both the class and resolve to outlast this outstanding filly up the Knavesmire’s long home straight.

She can add a third Oaks of the year here and begin dreams of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory for her ever-dominant team.

The action begins with a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes where the intertwining form lines of the six-furlong juvenile division will be put to the test.

Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation and Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango both represent the high-class Venetian Sun form from Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter – who would be a popular local winner – also chasing home Nunthorpe favourite Lady Iman at Goodwood.

However, it was hard not to be impresses with the way America Queen breezed her way to victory on debut at Haydock last month in the manner of an ultra-smart animal.

Holes can easily be picked in the form of that race, but judged on visuals, Richard Hughes’ youngster was one of the most impressive of the season to date and with Ryan Moore booked to take the ride a bold bid is predicted.

Clive Cox is the man to follow in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs where Song Of The Clyde can follow in the footsteps of Dragon Leader and Diligently to land the huge bounty for a third year in a row.

Yet to be dipped into deep waters, the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt beat a subsequent winner when opening his account at Chester on his second start and was not asked any serious questions when chasing home Ralph Beckett’s Gimcrack hope Egoli at Newbury most recently.

The owners also run Rod Millman’s Anthelia who is sure to be shorter in the betting following her Super Sprint triumph at Newbury, but while she may have already enjoyed her moment in the sun, there is a chance Song Of The Clyde has his best days ahead of him.

Remmooz enjoyed stepping up to a mile when scoring over course and distance last month and looks good value for just a 4lb raise in the Clipper Handicap.

The only defeat of his career has come when a respectable fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise to see Owen Burrows’ colt return to stakes company before the year is out.

Paddy Twomey’s Irish raider Bonus Time is another progressive performer to keep onside in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap after scooping a valuable prize at Naas at the beginning of the month.

SELECTIONS:

CHELMSFORD: 5.30 Harswell Duke, 6.00 Isambard Kingdom, 6.30 Parole Officer, 7.00 Reliable Ricki, 7.30 Brother Dave, 8.00 Invincible Love, 8.30 Poetic Jack, 9.00 Pebble Island.

KILLARNEY: 4.32 Urgent Whisper, 5.07 Bowensonfire, 5.37 Emily Love, 6.07 What’s Up Darling, 6.37 Gaelic Des Chastys, 7.07 Pride Of Place, 7.37 Wonleg, 8.07 Max Goodwin.

LINGFIELD: 2.00 Merci Monsieur, 2.35 Mezcala, 3.10 So Sassy, 3.45 Fram Castle, 4.20 Harpsichord, 4.55 Sugar Kane.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 4.50 Josh’s Joy, 5.25 Saxon Grace, 5.55 Clever And Classy, 6.25 Defiantly, 6.55 Colpe Cross, 7.25 Take Me, 7.55 Tachos.

NEWCASTLE: 5.45 Road To Wembley, 6.15 Ribble Vibe, 6.45 Bragbor, 7.15 Streets Of Gold, 7.45 Pixie Diva, 8.15 Believe The Storm, 8.45 Arctic Voyage

NEWTON ABBOT: 2.10 Three Pikes, 2.45 Lady Henrietta, 3.20 Cave Article, 3.55 Hope Rising, 4.25 Fringill Dike, 5.00 Faded Fantasy, 5.35 Magic Seven.

YORK: 1.50 America Queen, 2.25 SONG OF THE CLYDE (NAP), 3.00 Remmooz, 3.35 Minnie Hauk, 4.10 Alice Monet, 4.45 Ballistic Missile, 5.20 Bonus Time.

DOUBLE: Song Of The Clyde and Bonus Time.

Eclipse one-two all set for International rematch at York

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Delacroix gets the chance to confirm Coral-Eclipse form with Ombudsman in what looks a fascinating renewal of the Juddmonte International at York.

The richest race of the four-day Ebor Festival has a hard act to follow, as 12 months ago when City Of Troy beat Calandagan it was again rated as the best race anywhere in the world.

Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix may have failed to fire as a 2-1 favourite for the Derby in early June, trailing home ninth behind stablemate Lambourn, but he proved that form all wrong when coming from an uncompromising position to beat his elders in an pulsating Eclipse at Sandown in early July.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman was the horse he nabbed in the shadow of the post that day and while John and Thady Gosden’s runner is the marginal favourite to gain his revenge, O’Brien is happy with his charge ahead of the rematch.

“He seems in good form since Sandown, so I’m looking forward to it,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“What he did at Sandown after the passage he had there was unusual (the way he quickened up), so we hope he runs well again.”

City Of Troy went to the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year and whoever wins the International will again be guaranteed a starting berth, should they wish to tackle the Del Mar dirt on November 1.

To ensure a true-run race at York after the sedate pace of the Eclipse, Godolphin supplemented the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle to help Ombudsman.

John Gosden said: “The Eclipse was a muddling race and we didn’t want the prospect of a repeat, so Godolphin have kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker and he arrived on Thursday.”

Danon Decile in action in Newmarket
Danon Decile in action in Newmarket (York Racecourse)

Adding the international flavour is the Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile, who has been in Newmarket for a couple of weeks.

He has not run since beating Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in early April, but that form looks strong given the runner-up has since won twice at Group One level.

Calandagan’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard decided against sending his King George hero to York this time around, but does saddle a fascinating contender for the Aga Khan Studs in the unbeaten Daryz.

“Maybe this will all be too soon for him in his career, but I know Francis just felt the horse is in great form, he’s worked him for this race and when the horse is well he doesn’t like not running them because you never know what might happen,” said the the owners’ French stud manager Nemone Routh.

“We’ll take our chance and see where he ends up in the grand scheme. It helps that there’s a pacemaker as he’s a big horse with a big, long stride.”

She went on: “On paper you’d imagine he’ll stay a  mile and a half when you stand in beside him but for the moment he’s been running well over a mile and a quarter. A strongly-run 10 furlongs should suit him.

“There’s no excuses, it’s a level playing field with a long straight at York, it should be a guide as to where we fall among his generation.”

Both of the parents of Andrew Balding’s See The Fire won this race, for those who like their pedigrees.

The daughter of Sea The Stars and Arabian Queen produced her career-best over this course and distance when winning the Middleton Stakes earlier in the season and has since finished third in both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Nassau.

“The Juddmonte is always, in my opinion, the strongest race of the year,” said Balding.

See The Fire was "electric" at York earlier in the season
See The Fire was “electric” at York earlier in the season (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It’s where the three-year-olds will always turn up against the older horses and you get that wonderful mix of perhaps horses stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter and horses dropping back from a mile and a half.

“I think this year it’s very strong, as you’d expect. There are a couple of exciting unknowns in there, the Japanese horse and the French horse. But the thing about See The Fire is we know she loves York. She’s unbeaten at the track. She was very impressive winning the Strensall last year and she was absolutely electric winning the Middleton this spring.

“I think certain horses favour York and she’s certainly one of those – it’s got to be to her advantage. I’m not saying that means she’s going to win the race, but it should make her very competitive.

“She seems to have come out of Goodwood very well, but you never really know until you run again. I hope she’s going there in really good form.”

Jack Davison hoping for Group One breakthrough with She’s Quality

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Jack Davison is confident She’s Quality can prove she is just that when attempting to end her run of near-misses in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The four-year-old has been a regular raider to Britain this term, but so far has just fallen short, finishing second in all four outings – most recently when behind John and Sean Quinn’s reopposing Jm Jungle at Goodwood.

However, Davison has always seen the Knavesmire as the perfect place for his model of consistency to excel and she is backed to peak when it matters most to register a first success at Group One level.

“Ultimately she’s just been beaten by better horses on the day in her previous runs this season so I won’t make any excuses,” said Davison when analysing his charge’s season to date.

“What I will say though is I think she has learned a lot about sprinting in those four performances which will hopefully be in her favour on Friday and I think she has a very good chance of getting that number one by her name.

“It’s obvious that a quick five-furlongs on fast ground is exactly what she needs and this is the standout Group One option for her this year.

“We’ve been working towards it all season and I do think she thrives at this time of year which is another positive for a filly, so we’re really looking forward to it.”

She’s Quality is currently a best price of 10-1 for Nunthorpe glory, a race last won by the Irish when Edward Lynam’s Sole Power struck for the second time at York in 2014.

Carmers in good shape for York clash with Lambourn

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Paddy Twomey’s unbeaten colt Carmers is aiming for more success on British soil when he lines up in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The Wootton Bassett three-year-old did not run at two, and has not put a foot wrong since making his debut with a win in a Ballinrobe maiden in early May.

He then took the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan by a comfortable three lengths, after which he stepped up to Group Two level at Royal Ascot to claim the Queen’s Vase over a mile and six furlongs.

The colt is now heading for English shores again with his eye on another Group Two prize, this time stepping back to a mile and a half with Colin Keane booked to ride on the Knavesmire in the absence of the injured Billy Lee.

“He’s in very good form,” said Twomey.

“He’s trained really well since Ascot and has pleased us in everything he’s done, we’re really looking forward to getting him back out again.”

Carmers’ Queen’s Vase win at Ascot has looked like an increasingly solid piece of form – the runner-up, Furthur, has won the Geoffrey Freer since and the fifth-placed horse, Scandinavia, has subsequently struck twice when taking both the Bahrain Trophy and the Goodwood Cup.

Those performances bode well for Twomey’s runner, who will meet dual Derby winner Lambourn at York on quick ground the trainer feels his St Leger contender will relish.

“The race looks like it’s worked out really well, the form is very good from Ascot,” he said.

“I think the track at the Knavesmire will really suit him, it’s a big, galloping track and it will be fast ground which he really likes.

“He’d be very happy with the ground as it is, it was very quick ground at Ascot and he was very happy on that.”

Aidan O’Brien has chosen the Group Two as the next port of call for Lambourn, who has the option of the Leger or Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after this.

Impressive at Epsom, he was made to work extremely hard when following up at the Curragh by then stablemate Serious Contender, who had been beaten in a handicap at Royal Ascot and has since been sold to Hong Kong.

“Lambourn has obviously had four races this year, he’s fit, so he hasn’t done too much since the Curragh,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve just kept him ticking over really. Los Angeles came from the Curragh and Epsom to this race last year

“Mount Kilimanjaro had a break after winning at Chester. He’s just ready to start back really.

“It’s the same with Stay True, he just got beat in the Lingfield trial by another of ours (Puppet Master) and we gave him a break as that was just his second run, he’s just ready to start.

“They’ll improve a lot for the run.”

O’Brien also runs Thrice, seventh in the Irish Derby when last seen and prior to that the winner of the Gallinule Stakes.

William Haggas is represented by Glasgow Stakes runner-up Arabian Force, while Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras, so impressive in the Dante but disappointing since, returns to York having been gelded.

Majestic Warrior aiming to realise long-term Ebor plan

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James Tate is hoping a long-term plan comes to fruition with Majestic Warrior in the Sky Bet Ebor at York on Saturday.

Successful in two of his first three races in 2023, the Churchill five-year-old then defied an absence of almost two years when bolting up at Thirsk in April.

Having seen his rating shoot up from 89 to 98, Tate has resisted the temptation to run since, instead electing to keep his powder dry for Europe’s richest Flat handicap.

“We’ve preserved his mark of 98, which we thought would get him in the race and give him the best chance I suppose,” said the Newmarket handler.

“The only concern is he doesn’t have as much experience as many of them in the field, but he’s in very good form, he’s a good horse and we’re looking forward to running him.

“We decided not to run him again after Thirsk and we’ll see if it’s a good plan halfway through Saturday afternoon.

“If he’d gone and won another small handicap he’d have been near enough top-weight, alternatively if we’d gone for a Listed race they’re probably worth £40,000 added most of those and this is £500,000 added, so we’ll give it a whirl and if it doesn’t work we can go somewhere else after.”

When asked whether he felt his charge was well handicapped, Tate added: “We hope so, but you don’t know do you? He’s a horse we’ve always liked, a mile and six (furlongs) will be his ideal trip, I would have thought, and I think he’d go on anything from good to soft to good to firm.”

‘A big player’ – Distant Storm brewing in Acomb Stakes

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Charlie Appleby is confident Distant Storm is heading to York as a “big player” for Wednesday’s Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.

The Godolphin team went to €1.9million to secure the colt’s services at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May and he gave them an immediate return on their investment when making a successful start to his career, albeit narrowly, at Newmarket’s July Festival.

That form could hardly have worked out better, with not only the runner-up Constitution River and the third Catullus winning since, but also the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th home.

Couple that with the fact Distant Storm is bred in the purple as a son of Night Of Thunder out of Date With Destiny, who was the sole foal produced by the brilliant George Washington, and it is no surprise Appleby is expecting a bold showing from his charge on the Knavesmire.

“I’m very pleased with the way he has come out of Newmarket, he ran as we expected and has always shown himself up as a nice horse,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told Tattersalls.

“The Acomb was a race we had in mind once he broke his maiden. The way he’s done since his maiden means we’re going with confidence that he will be a big player.

“He’s a horse that’s developing all the time and hopefully looks as though he has got a bright future.”

Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket
Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

The biggest threat to Distant Storm appears to be the Aidan O’Brien-trained Italy, who landed cramped odds on his Leopardstown introduction before finishing second to Appleby’s Saba Desert in the Group Two Superlative Stakes on the July course.

O’Brien said: “He ran well at Newmarket. The race was a bit messy but he ran well, he was still green.

“We think and hope he should have come on a bit and we’re expecting a nice run.”

Other contenders include Andrew Balding’s Newbury winner Gewan and David Menuisier’s Goodwood Galaxy, who won on his debut at Salisbury before placing a highly creditable fourth in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes.

“He ran a good race at Goodwood and it makes sense to run here,” said Menuisier.

“I think he’ll be better over a mile, but there’s no ideal mile race coming up right now so it makes sense to go for the Acomb and then we’ll probably step him up in trip.

“He was slowly away at Goodwood and without that he could have finished even closer, but that is all in the past now and we’re looking to the future.”

Sparks flew at York when Electrocutionist made it an Italian job

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Danon Decile will add a global flavour to this year’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York. But 20 years ago it was the Italian job, as Electrocutionist sent sparks flying on the Knavesmire.

The last international raider to win the highlight of York’s season, Electrocutionist – rather fittingly ahead of the latest renewal – had a Japanese star a neck in arrears as daring trainer Valfredo Valiani enjoyed the crowning moment of his career at a place he will always hold dear.

“They are great memories and I love York, it is a gorgeous racecourse,” said Valiani, who also enjoyed Group One success on the Knavesmire with Super Tassa in the 2001 Yorkshire Oaks.

“Coming from Italy we don’t have up and downs, we have flat tracks and flat training centres, so York was just perfect.

Electrocutionist winning at York
Electrocutionist winning at York (John Giles/PA)

“The welcome we got from the racetrack was great and everyone was so nice to us. I can’t help but love York, as it is a place that has been so lucky for me.

“I have won Group races in Italy and France and England, but those wins at York are definitely the best achievements of my career.”

With Electrocutionist a champion in his native Italy, Valiani had long held ambitions of sending his nation’s flagbearer on the long raid from his base in Pisa to Yorkshire.

However, it was while the colt was lodging with the Italian’s compatriot and mentor Luca Cumani in the build up to his York date that excitement hit fever pitch, after Electrocutionist turned up the voltage under big-race pilot Mick Kinane with a scintillating piece of work on the Newmarket gallops.

Kinane would prove the final piece of the puzzle and after being given in-depth guidance on the eve of the Group One showpiece, Valiani’s gladiator was ready for his showdown with Kazuo Fujisawa Japan Cup hero Zenno Rob Roy in the white-hot atmosphere of York’s equine Colosseum.

Jockey Mick Kinane was a vital cog in Electrocutionist's York win
Jockey Mick Kinane was a vital cog in Electrocutionist’s York win (Niall Carson/PA)

“In May he won a Group Two in Italy and then he won the Gran Premio di Milano and straight after I said we’re going to run in York and I was pretty sure he would do very well,” said Valiani.

“We went there with a lot of confidence because I sent the horse to England about a month before the race and he did a very nice piece of work in the lead up under Mick Kinane on the Al Bahathri.

“I spoke to Mick at the Bedford Lodge Hotel the night before the race showing him all the videos of his previous races.

“I was talking him through them, showing him where I thought the jockey was doing well or doing wrong. I think we probably spent an hour talking and I just told him to to wait as long as he could, but then during the race I couldn’t help but think he had got him a bit too far back.

“He showed his class and won by a very short distance and when Mick jumped off he said ‘I knew I was going to win coming round the bend’ and I told him he should have called me as I have almost had a heart attack!

“He was a hell of a horse and it gave me great satisfaction.”

With a mid-race health scare avoided and his greatest racing accomplishment secured, the Tuscan trainer’s thoughts immediately turned to conquering Europe’s most prestigious middle-distance prize, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Parisian dreams would ultimately be vetoed, with Electrocutionist instead heading to Woodbine’s Canadian International for what would be his final start for Valiani in a spell that yielded six heroic victories and only two defeats.

Valiani said: “After York I wanted to run in the Arc, I was pretty sure he would have been in the first two and I still don’t think I was wrong, he could easily have done that.

“There were big discussions that lasted days and I ended up running him in a race in Canada and that is the only regret I really have with him that he didn’t get to run in the Arc.

“The only race he ever lost in Italy, he was beaten a nose by Shirocco, and the ground was slightly soft that day and he didn’t like that, he was a fantastic racehorse.”

Arc regrets will never diminish the Italian’s achievements on the Knavesmire and a love affair that had begun four years prior to Electrocutionist’s finest hour in Valiani’s care, when outsider Super Tassa silenced the swarming grandstands with her shock 25-1 triumph in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Super Tassa (left) winning at York
Super Tassa (left) winning at York (John Giles/PA)

That would be Italy’s first Group One triumph in Britain since Marguerite Vernaut’s successful sortie on the Champion Stakes in 1960, with the exploits of both Super Tassa and Electrocutionist ensuring Valiani’s place in both Italian and Yorkshire racing folklore.

“I think I have the best strike-rate at York in Group One races,” quipped Valiani.

“Super Tassa was 25-1 and I chose Kevin Darley to ride her as she was a filly who liked to come from behind and having watched a few races at York thought he was the perfect man. He did a hell of a job.

“I remember when Super Tassa won there were only four people shouting – my great friend and my teacher Luca Cumani, the owner Cyril Humphries, myself and my vet. Everyone else wasn’t talking at all because she caused such a shock.

“I love being a bloodstock agent, but I will never forget my training career which went on for 25 years and those days at York which were so lucky and so great.”

As for Electrocutionist, he would further advertise his class after Godolphin purchased him, winning the Dubai World Cup for Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori, before finishing second in both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Qirat supplemented for Rosallion rematch at York

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Shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat has been supplemented for the Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Saturday.

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old was added to the Sussex field late in the day, primarily to carry out pacemaking duties for Field Of Gold, but he became the biggest-priced winner of a Group One in modern history at 150-1.

It cost his owners Juddmonte £70,000 to add him to the Goodwood race and they have paid another £40,000 to run him in York’s seven-furlong contest, which boasts top-level status for the first time this year.

“It looks the right race for him and Ralph felt strongly about it,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte.

“The owners are happy to go along with it, he showed plenty of pace in the Sussex and while a mile is his optimum, I don’t think he’ll have any problem dropping back to seven.”

After his hold-up last week, Richard Hannon has rerouted Rosallion, narrowly denied by Qirat at Goodwood, and the pair are in line to meet once more.

Mahon said: “It looks like we could meet Rosallion again and we know he’s a top-class horse, but he obviously had a little issue last week which stopped him from running in France. We’re looking forward to taking him on again and hopefully we’ll be able to maintain our position from Goodwood.”

Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, also a winner at Goodwood in Group Three company, is another, supplemented for the race.

Andrew Balding’s Never So Brave will aim to maintain his progression having won the Summer Mile last time out while Maranoa Charlie comes over from France to represent local owners Bond Thoroughbreds.

Lake Forest, Audience, Exactly, Cosmic Year, Quinault, Ten Bob Tony, Ides Of March and Annaf make up the total of 13 contenders.

Delacroix and Ombudsman part of six-strong Juddmonte International field

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A fascinating six-runner field has been declared for the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, headlined by a rematch between Delacroix and Ombudsman.

The pair met in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, where Ryan Moore conjured a tremendous last-gasp effort from Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix to deny the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman.

Ombudsman had earlier been very impressive in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the four-year-old has yet to finish out of the first two in seven career starts.

Delacroix followed the traditional Ballydoyle Derby route to Epsom, winning the two Leopardstown trials, but never looked happy in the premier Classic. Back at 10 furlongs last time out, he showed this true colours.

The race truly lives up to its International name this year, with Danon Decile having travelled over from Japan for the contest. He was last seen beating subsequent King George winner Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Daryz, from the same Francis-Henri Graffard stable as last year’s runner-up Calandagan, represents the Aga Khan Studs, aiming to be the first French-trained winner since Triptych in 1987.

Andrew Balding’s See The Fire, a 12-length winner of the Middleton Stakes over course and distance earlier in the season, is another with strong claims.

Birr Castle, supplemented last week, is set to play the role of pacemaker for Ombudsman.

Seven go to post in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, where dual Derby winner Lambourn is the standout.

O’Brien’s colt faces three stablemates in Mount Kilimanjaro, Stay True and Thrice, while Paddy Twomey’s Carmers, the unbeaten Queen’s Vase winner, could give him plenty to think about and Dante winner Pride Of Arras aims to bounce back after being gelded.

Coolmore and Godolphin face off in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, with Italy and Distant Storm respectively in a field of eight.

Richard Hughes no stranger to Nunthorpe success as he readies Sayidah Dariyan

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Precision timing proved key when Richard Hughes tasted Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes glory as a jockey and his expert judgement could see Sayidah Dariyan peak at the perfect moment when she takes aim at York’s feature sprint on Friday.

Often content to bide his time in the plate, patience has again been the Irishman’s watchword in the training ranks, ending his long wait for an elusive first Group One success as a trainer when No Half Measures won the July Cup earlier this summer.

And ahead of Sayidah Dariyan’s attempt to quickly double his tally at the highest level, the 52-year-old remembers delivering Edward Lynam’s Sole Power with aplomb in the 2014 Nunthorpe, a ride which is often referred to as Hughes at the height of his powers.

Richard Hughes knows what it takes to win at York
Richard Hughes knows what it takes to win at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

A shock winner when surging home at 100-1 four years previously, the seven-year-old was an established name in the spiriting division and fresh off victory at Royal Ascot when Hughes entered the stalls aboard the 11-4 favourite.

What would ensue in the following 57.92 seconds was a display of calculated decision making as Hughes weaved his way to the front in the nick of time in an exhibition of horsemanship which was a hallmark of his decorated career in the saddle.

“It was really straightforward and I always felt it was a race you needed to get your fractions the same every furlong,” said Hughes

“It looked like Sole Power was quickening but he was going the same speed from the two-furlong pole to the one as he did from the one-pole to the winning post, I would say, and it was the others which stopped.

“I had no choice for four furlongs as I was flat to the bat, I know I was sitting on him but I couldn’t go any quicker.

“It was only then when the pace finally collapsed – and it took a good while but it eventually did – and they were all in a bit of a heap and collapsed at a similar time that I got going, and I had a bit of luck along the way to get through the pack.

“It does give you some extra satisfaction when you win like that and I enjoyed it, that’s for sure.”

There are many ways to get a job done and while Sole Power’s daring late dash is the showreel finish any jockey would be proud to wax lyrical about, in stark contrast, Hughes’ first Nunthorpe triumph aboard Oasis Dream in 2003 was a mere formality as the outstanding sprinter of his generation blew away his rivals.

Majestically handled by John Gosden, he was an impressive winner of the July Cup before dropping back to five furlongs to prove equally spellbinding on the Knavesmire, leaving Hughes with little doubt where he stands in the pantheon of sprinting greats.

Oasis Dream
Richard Hughes (left) with Oasis Dream after winning the Nunthorpe (PA)

He said: “He was very, very fast and able to maintain it. He was a young horse at the time so he was exuberant.

“He would be one of the best sprinters I rode, he was third at Royal Ascot but won a July Cup and a Nunthorpe and not many do that, he was very good.”

With triumphs in the saddle now confined to the memory bank and perhaps the odd photographic reminder on a wall, attentions turn to the next chapter in Hughes’ Nunthorpe history book when Sayidah Dariyan takes her place in the showpiece sprint event.

Successful over the course and distance in her most recent outing, Hughes is confident the talented daughter of Dariyan is coming to the boil at just the right time, as the Weathercock Stables handler looks to cap a breakout year in the training ranks at the scene of some of his finest hours on horseback.

“It would be lovely to win as a trainer,” continued Hughes. “It might be a bit harder than when I was a jockey but we hope we have a great chance.

“Sayidah Dariyan really is going the right way and last time when she won at York, it was the first time she was ridden the way I like.

“She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot by Billy (Loughnane) and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.

“I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her, she’s quite fast.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well, we know we have two nice fillies.”