York Saturday

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

THE £300k Ebor Handicap is a much-cherished prize in Yorkshire, and while it may have grated to see the prize go for export, there seemed to be an awful lot of happy faces as the Henry de Bromhead-trained Magical Zoe made her first handicap start on the flat a winning one.

The daughter of Shantou has made the frame at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and got her day in the sun with a comprehensive success, the 11/2 favourite travelling best and going on well over a furlong out to beat Kihavah (Adrian Keatley/P.J. McDonald) by two and three- quarter lengths.

Explaining the difficulty of getting her qualified for this race having not run on the flat before April, de Bromhead was typically self-effacing, saying: “With good horses, it’s a fraction easier; the team at home have done a brilliant job.

“We have a win and you’re in for the Melbourne Cup, so we’ll have to start thinking about that.

“That’s a possibility.”

Sky Bet City of York Stakes

THE withdrawal of dual winner Kinross due to the ground and of Lake Forest after that colt had got upset in the stalls meant that the Group 2 City of York Stakes was weaker than expected, but it still threw up an unexpected result as 33/1 shot Breege (John & Sean Quinn/Colin Keane) beat fellow outsider Vafortino (Kevin Philippart de Foy/James Doyle) by a length and a half, with odds-on favourite Audience only fourth.

As in the Lennox Stakes, Art Power led, pursued by Audience, but neither were in the same form as they were at Goodwood and both were beaten with two furlongs left, and the pair who challenged latest came to the fore, with Breege seemingly going nowhere on the turn but finding plenty as others flattered, and she won with a bit up her sleeve on the day, adding to her victory in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom in June.

John Quinn ran Breege here rather than in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood having given owner Andrew Black of Chasemore Farms the choice. “The money York have put up is immense” said Quinn, who now trains in partnership with son Sean. “He [Black] said to come here and I’m delighted we did.”

Fire lights up the Knavesmire

Sky Bet Strensall Stakes

THE Group 3 Strensall Stakes over one-furlong, one-mile, saw Oisin Murphy (pictured) produce a vintage ride on Andrew Balding’s See The Fire, who he delivered with a winning run up the far rail despite the filly being drawn on the outside of the field. With the ground looking to ride quicker on the inside all day, it may well have been a race-winning move to take back and wait for a run. The 3/1 favourite didn’t get to the front until inside the last half furlong, but she quickened well to score by a length and three-quarters from Phantom Flight (George Scott/Callum Shepherd), who rallied late to shade outsider Checkandchallenge (William Knight/Silvestre de Sousa).

A daughter of Juddmonte International winner Arabian Queen, See The Fire has been racing in Group 1 company all season, and this was a deserved win having been beaten just a neck in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on her previous start.

“She actually likes not having space,” said the winning rider. “She enjoys tracking on to the back of them like she did at Goodwood, but then when it opened up, she was electric. I’d definitely say we’ll be going for a Group 1 next.”

Julia Graves Roses Stakes

TROPICAL Storm (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) had excuses over six furlongs in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and took advantage of the drop in class and trip to win the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes, with the lowest draw also a big help.

The 5/2 market leader looked sure to win well when kicking into a clear lead two furlongs out but was closed down at the line by Magnum Force (Ger Lyons/Colin Keane), who was beaten just a neck having had to switch across the track from stall 16.

David Marnane’s Sir Yoshi (Luke McAteer) was third, beaten a length and a half in total having also been done no favours by the draw. Given the winner had strong claims on paper and got the run of the race, the placed pair are both worthy of support at a similar level in the future.

Goodwood Saturday

William Hill Prestige Stakes

TESTING ground saw small fields for Goodwood’s pattern races on Saturday, with Anshoda (Dave Loughnane/Billy Loughnane) beating six rivals after four – including market leaders Formal and Tabiti – were withdrawn.

She showed guts to challenge between rivals in the straight to win by a length and three-quarters and a neck from Duty First (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle), and Merrily (Aidan O’Brien/Declan McDonogh) returning at an SP of 4/1.

Purchased by Team Valor and Gary Barber after finishing second in the Star Stakes at Sandown on her previous start, the plan is for her to have one more run in the UK before being sent to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, where she is now guaranteed a slot.

William Hill Celebration Mile

THE soft ground held no terrors for Ice Max (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) who ran on best to deny Poker Face (Simon and Ed Crisford/Harry Davies) in the Group 2 Celebration Mile, which was reduced to only four runners after the defection of likely favourite Lead Artist.

The winner was the 5/1 outsider of the quartet, but was always well placed, and grabbing the favoured rail in the straight proved decisive, with the runner-up tending to hang right in the closing stages, which may have cost him victory.

Windsor Saturday

Weatherby’s Winter Hill Stakes

THE Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes was the feature of Windsor’s evening card on Saturday and saw My Prospero (William Haggas/Cieren Fallon) attempt to make all the running.

The 2/1 favourite looked beaten when headed over a furlong out but rallied gamely to get back up in the dying strides to deny Certain Lad (Jack Channon/George Bass) by a neck. The winner was third in the 2022 Champion Stakes and, while he hasn’t really fulfilled the huge promise of that run, he is entered in the corresponding event again, as well as the Irish Champion.

August Stakes

Andrew Balding’s Sea Of Roses gained her first win since her juvenile campaign when making all the running under Hayley Turner to land The Listed August Stakes over Windsor’s extended one-mile, three-furlong trip. Favourite Deira Mile (Owen Burrows/Cieren Fallon) was always her nearest challenger in a field of four, and closed menacingly in the final furlong, but just failed to get on terms, with Aimeric also closing late to give a close finish between the three, which Sea of Roses shaded by a neck.

Around The Tracks

THERE was listed action at Newmarket on Saturday and Ripon on Monday, with the popular Quinault (Stuart Williams/Marco Ghiani) regaining winning ways in typical fashion in the Hopeful Stakes at the former track, the four-year-old making all to score on the softest ground he’s raced on, with the refitting of a hood. He disappointed in the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury but missed the break before over-racing in both without his usual headgear, and isn’t one to write off in group company.

Ripon winner Soldier’s Heart (Simon and Ed Crisford/Harry Davies) disappointed when fancied for the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last month, but has won both starts since. He is entered in both the Mill Reef and the Middle Park but will need to progress to be competitive there.