Katie Midwinter (19/08/24)
A THRILLING WEDNESDAY ON THE KNAVESMIRE
York welcomes the masses this week as it plays host to the wonderful Ebor Festival. The city welcomes the elite – both human and equine – as some of the sport’s biggest stars head to the Knavesmire, in search of glory. The meeting has become one of the most anticipated of the year, particularly during the Flat season, and the racecourse does a fantastic job at welcoming the crowds.
The location is aesthetically pleasing, the staff are warm and friendly, and there is something there for everyone to enjoy. It is always wonderful to see the retired racehorses there, enjoying their lives after racing and watching on as the youngsters take to the track.
There’s incredible racing, a perfect combination of prestigious Group One contests, competitive handicaps, and numerous informative juvenile events. I have often found myself following the form of some of those two-year-old races for years to come.
The Juddmonte International this year is shaping up to be the race of the season, in which City Of Troy faces a dozen challengers as he attempts to further enhance his reputation and prove he is worthy of being considered the best of the Ballydoyle battalion, ever.
There are rivals from France and Japan in the field, taking on the British and Irish contenders that feature the exciting filly Bluestocking, as well as Ambiente Friendly, for whom the drop in trip should suit massively.
There is a look to the future in the Acomb Stakes where The Lion In Winter, one of the favourites for next year’s Derby, is set to put his credentials on the line following an impressive victory at the Curragh. However, €2,300,000 Justify colt, Ruling Court, will have plenty to say on that matter, and looked incredibly impressive on his debut at Sandown.
Yaroogh, for William Haggas, put in a particularly taking performance recently at Kempton, and it will be interesting to see how he copes with the step up in class, whilst Diablo Rojo will also be worthy of serious consideration on the basis of his Redcar success last month.
Los Angeles and King’s Gambit face off in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, won last year by subsequent St Leger winner Continuous, in a race that features three Aidan O’Brien-trained runners, plus Derby fourth Deira Mile, and the intriguing Space Legend.
A seven-race card packed with quality, on only the first of four days of a spectacular meeting…
1.50pm – Class 2 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
A tricky twenty two-runner sprint is the first race of the meeting, in which Pilgrim is attempting a hat-trick of wins following an impressive Palace Of Holyrood Stakes victory at Royal Ascot. Now 19lbs higher than when beginning his winning sequence, and when third in a lower class handicap at the track, he must prove he is able to defy the significant rise in the weights if he is to record a fourth career success.
Shagraan is another who holds obvious claims on the back of a Goodwood win over Got To Love a Grey. Trained by Mick Appleby, the Sioux Nation gelding appears to be improving still, therefore his progress may not be halted by a 5lb rise.
Top-weight Democracy Dilemma makes plenty of appeal for Robert Cowell, given he has been plying his trade in Listed company recently, and he’s only 1lb higher than when second to recent winner Dream Composer in the “Dash” at Epsom.
A slight concern for the four-year-old may be the ground. Although he is fairly versatile when it comes to conditions, he has only raced on ground with firm in the description on a couple of occasions, and some of his better performances recently have come on a slightly easier surface. If the ground is rattling quick, as expected, on Wednesday, there may be others better suited to the task in hand. On class however, he demands respect.
Silky Wilkie’s task at the weights is made easier by 7lb claimer Sam Feilden taking the ride. The five-year-old has proven himself in tougher contests in the past, but he has been less consistent this term and he must improve on his eighth-placed finish at the track last month. If he is able to return to the form of old, he holds strong claims at the weights.
Adrian Nicholls-trained Tees Spirit has usual partner Mia Nicholls aboard, claiming 5lbs. The pair beat five rivals to win a 5f contest at Sandown last month, despite being slowly away, and are only 2lbs higher here, following his ninth in a Listed Deauville event won by Bradsell. He is of interest, but there may be others better off at the weights.
Pocklington makes his first appearance following wind surgery, and is applied with a visor which was first tried when finishing down the field in the Commonwealth Cup. Whilst he may not be up to Group One level, he holds strong claims from a mark of 96 back down in class, and would have been a strong favourite for a big sprint at the track in June, had there not been a downpour of rain. On the same mark, he is worth sticking with.
He’s unexposed, and has shown he does possess plenty of ability as his fifth in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes demonstrated. There’s plenty to like about this Blue Point colt, who could prove to be much better than his current mark suggests.
Bergerac is 2lbs lower than when winning the race two years ago and enters calculations. Likable veteran Copper Knight, who carries a feather weight, is impossible to ignore at his beloved track, at which he is the most winning horse in history, as he bids for a record-extending eighth win on the Knavesmire.
Vintage Clarets’ recent form figures wouldn’t instill confidence in his chances here, but he’s 3lbs lower than when narrowly behind Democracy Dilemma and Copper Knight at Chester in May, and he did manage sixth in the race last year, when beaten only by two-and-a-half-lengths. He is one to note at enticing odds.
Selection(s): Pocklington 14/1 & Vintage Clarets 25/1 (EW)
2.25pm – Acomb Stakes (Group 3)
There are many exciting youngsters in this field, but the market is dominated by Godolphin favourite Ruling Court, an expensive purchase by Justify. He made an impressive start when a convincing five-and-a-half-length winner at Sandown last month, displaying an electric turn of foot and great speed.
The third that day, Stanhope Gardens, has won since and, considering his breeding and profile, there should be plenty more to come from the exciting Charlie Appleby-trained colt.
The Lion In Winter looks an equally promising prospect for Ballydoyle, but may improve for a step up in trip in future and is already among the favourites for next year’s Derby at Epsom. The son of Sea The Stars should possess stamina in abundance, therefore the sharp 7f on quicker conditions here may not be in his favour, and he may be best watched with interest.
Wimbledon Hawkeye was surprise winner on debut at Kempton, when sent off at odds of 28/1, but he proved it was no fluke when third to Ancient Truth in the Superlative Stakes – form that more than justifies his participation in this Group Three.
Yaroogh used his experience to great effect to overcome his rivals at Kempton earlier this month, the form of which is hard to decipher as he faced a number of newcomers who have yet to be seen subsequently. The manner in which he was able to win was visually impressive however, and with the William Haggas yard in excellent form of late, he could be capable of outrunning his odds of 25/1.
Selection: Yaroogh 25/1 (EW)
3.35pm – Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)
Derby winner City Of Troy coped with the drop in trip to land the Eclipse at Sandown last month. Whilst plenty were left underwhelmed by the length victory over a rallying Al Riffa, the Justify colt was always doing enough in conditions that were softer than desired. He is yet to run on the good to firm ground expected on the Knavesmire on Wednesday, and is presented with the opportunity of putting in a career best performance, in what will be his toughest race to date.
The exceptional colt has been dubbed as Ballydoyle’s best of all-time, their Frankel. If he is to justify being mentioned in the same breath as Frankel, he should be putting in a performance of a lifetime here. He faces stiff opposition but if he is able to blow the field away in this prestigious contest, then racegoers at York will surely be witnessing one of the greats and a colt of a generation.
Ambiente Friendly finished second to the favourite at Epsom, before placing third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. The drop in trip will likely suit the James Fanshawe-trained colt, who has shown he possesses a great level of ability and is of Group One quality.
The tough horse won the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield earlier in the season, in fine fashion, beating subsequent Group Two winner, and strong stayer, Illinois. This is the quickest ground he will have encountered, but he possesses plenty of speed which he can put to good use on this sharp track.
French-raider Calandagan is bidding for a fourth successive victory and his first Group One, on the back of an impressive King Edward VII Stakes success over Space Legend. He beat the field by six-lengths at Royal Ascot, displaying great speed as he powered to the line.
All of his runs prior to Ascot, bar an all-weather success at Chantilly, had been on softer ground, but he proved his versatility on good to firm when last seen, and should go well again. One concern may be the drop in trip, considering his stamina-laden pedigree and the way he pulled further clear in the closing stages when last seen.
He appears to possess plenty of speed but, as mentioned, his previous runs over a shorter distance were on more testing ground, which would make them stiffer stamina tests than the mile-and-a-quarter trip on rattling quick ground here. A fast pace will likely help his cause, but the favourite isn’t shy of stamina either.
A Group Two winner here on her first run of this campaign, Bluestocking holds her ground in the big race of the week. She finished second in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes when last seen, beating third-placed Rebel’s Romance, a multiple Group One winner rated 122, by three-and-a-quarter-lengths, with Sunway, Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg further behind. That form puts her strictly in contention here and, if she can show even further improvement, she has to be feared.
Course-and-distance winner Alflaila won the Group Two York Stakes at the track last month, following a fourth-place finish behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. With form figures of 2111 at the track, and the yard performing at a 50 percent strike-rate currently, there is enough in his favour to suggest he’ll put in a big effort, but he faces a tough task among this calibre of horses.
Zarakem was only three-quarters-of-a-length behind Auguste Rodin at Royal Ascot, when ahead of the talented Horzione Dore, with Royal Rhyme back in fifth. The French colt will be suited by the trip, and he remains unexposed at this level in these conditions.
Maljoom represents the in-form William Haggas team, and should be respected for his second to Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes. Japanese-raider Durezza is a Kyoto Grade One winner under Christophe Lemaire, and is a fascinating contender on his first British start.
Selection: City Of Troy 5/4
4.10pm – Class 2 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
An extended two-mile contest follows the feature race of the day, as the stayers take centre stage. Samui, making only his fourth start in the Flat sphere, is an intriguing contender for Gordon Elliott, from a mark of 102. He’s a Listed winner over hurdles, and has shown some ability to win twice this summer, over shorter. With proven stamina, he must be respected.
Great Bedwyn is 1lb higher for a third-placed finish at Goodwood, when behind the progressive Align The Stars and Fairbanks. That level of form puts him right in the frame at the weights, and he remains unexposed over these staying trips, capable of showing plenty of further progression.
Divine Comedy is up 5lbs for a second in the Ascot Stakes, with 5lb claimer Kaiya Fraser retaining the ride. She’s a consistent type who can make the frame once again, despite being on a career-high mark.
Four-year-old son of Roaring Lion, Iron Lion, is up 4lbs for a win at Ripon last month, and faces a significant step up in trip here. He attempted 1m6f at the track last year, when finishing seventh, and will need to improve on that effort, but is another who is unexposed.
One to note is Knightswood for Charlie Johnston, a gelding who has been luckless in both of his last two starts. At Goodwood when last seen, he finished fifth in the aforementioned race behind stablemate Align the Stars, but struggled for an out as the race developed.
He appeared to have plenty of running left in him, but he was repeatedly denied a clear run on the rail, and had to suffer his fate. From an unchanged mark of 88, he holds strong each-way claims once again, this time under Joe Fanning.
Get Shirty was never involved in his recent appearance at Goodwood, travelling in the rear of the field throughout. If he is able to bounce back and return to the form of his penultimate start when fourth in the Ascot Stakes, he should be in contention back on a mark of 90.
Selection: Knightswood 10/1 (EW)
4.45pm – Class 2 Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Designer, bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the race, is equipped with a first-time tongue tie on her first run following wind surgery. She hasn’t been seen since last October, but has won when fresh in the past and, although she’s 4lbs higher than when winning the race last year, Brandon Wilkie claims a useful 5lbs aboard the gutsy mare.
Course-and-distance winner Got To Love A Grey finished second to Shagraan in a Goodwood handicap when last seen, which represents a good level of form. She won a Listed contest on heavy ground in Chantilly on her seasonal return, and had previously finished fifth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. The three-year-old has plenty of class, and is ground versatile, but whether or not a mark of 96 proves stiff enough in this handicap remains to be seen.
Lightly-raced Gutsy Girl is an intriguing contender for Charlie Fellowes, in the hands of Oisin Murphy, as she bids for a third career success. She has some useful form to her name this term, and has been given a 7lb rise for her win at Kempton when last seen in July.
Miss Attitude holds strong claims for Jack Channon, and should enjoy the quicker conditions, whilst Harvanna, who is closely matched on form, is a course-and-distance winner that appears overpriced at 14/1 for Karl Burke.
Midnight Affair wears a first-time visor as she attempts to return to the form of her juvenile campaign, when beating now 106-rated Flora Of Bermuda to win her maiden, following a second-place finish to subsequent Group Three winner, Soprano.
Her form had tailed off this term, but her recent run at Nottingham gave hope that she still retains some ability and, if she’s able to build on that outing, a mark of 80 appears workable enough.
Selection(s): Midnight Affair 14/1 & Harvanna 14/1 (EW)
* prices/runners are correct at the time of publication (7:06pm – 19/08/24)
THE CONDITIONAL 
See you tomorrow!
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