Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I have looked at the Group 2 City Of York Stakes at York. Plus, as a bonus the two races from Goodwood on ITV this afternoon.
Ebor Festival: The final day
You look forward to the Ebor Festival for a year and the four days are over in heartbeat.
As a schoolboy it wasn’t the Derby or the Grand National that captured my imagination for horse racing. It was today’s Ebor Handicap.
It was Sea Pigeon’s win in the race in 1979 that made me fall in love with the sport. To this day the race holds a special place in my heart, and I have been lucky to have had a fair few winners of the race.
There might be a Group 1 on the final day, but I think today’s card is the most competitive of the four days. British flat racing’s equivalent of the Melbourne Cup the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) is the day’s feature race.
Ebor Handicap Verdict:
Sometimes it pays not to overcomplicate things and Sweet William will be tough to beat if in the same form as last time. If you like his Newbury form, you must think that Adjuvant has good each way claims.
Real Dream is capable of better, but the yard’s form could be better. Live Your Dream has been prepared for this, but it won’t be easy to give 10lb to Sweet William. Scriptwriter hasn’t had many goes on the flat and ran well behind Hamish last time. Get Shirty has dropped to a tempting mark but his form coming into the race is a worry.
There’s £300,000 on offer to the winner of this year’s Ebor. But there’s also plenty more good prize money on offer on the undercard which includes Group 2 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (3:00). That race, run over 7f, which York would like to see have Group 1 status has a winners first prize of £283,550. It’s that race that I’m putting under the big race microscope.
3:00 – Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2) – 7f
Last year’s winner Kinross was backing to winning ways in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time. The right favourite and he’s the one to beat. Isaac Shelby was a neck runner-up to Kinross at Goodwood and back for another crack at Kinross. It’s hard to see him beating Kinross but he’s got each way claims.
Sacred, trained by William Haggas, is sure to be popular. A strongly run, quick ground 7f are her optimum conditions. However, she was a beaten favourite in last year’s race and looks held by Kinross.
Ryan Moore has been booked for Mutasaabeq. I’m not sure he'll be suited by the drop back to 7f and he won’t be able to dominate this field.
Jumby won the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes last season but missed this year’s race due to good to soft ground. He’ll get the strongly run race that he needs and should get his ground, but he was well beaten in last year’s race albeit it only came seven days after his big effort in the Hungerford.
Olivia Maralda won a Listed race at Epsom in June but wasn’t well positioned when a strong finishing 1 ¾ length 5th of 15 in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. She needs to have improved plenty since Ascot to beat the likes of Kinross to win this, but the 3-year-old could get in to the places.
Kinross is the right favourite and he’s hard to knock. Isaac Shelby has solid each way claims and Olivia Maralda could get into the frame.
Goodwood
The Group 2 William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (2.40) is the highlight of the Goodwood card Epictetus was back to winning ways in a Group 3 over C&D 22 days ago. A combination of soft ground and a drop back to mile suited him last time. If the rain arrives, he could follow up.
Knight was returning from a gelding operation and three month layoff when a 2 ¾ length 4th of 7 to Epictetus last time and could get closer with that run under his belt. Yard won this 2020. Angel Bleu is another with claims if the ground softens.
There’s another Group race on the Goodwood card. The Group 3 William Hill Prestige Fillies' Stakes (2:05) has attracted ten runners.
Shuwari is the bookies early bird favourite. The daughter of New Bay impressed when winning a Listed race at Sandown 30 days ago. It was soft ground at Sandown, but she had won on quicker ground on her racecourse debut. She’s got a Group 1 Fillies Mile entry and is open to further improvement.
Karl Burke hasn’t had the best of times at York so far this week, but his filly Darnation looks a player. The filly seemed to relish soft ground when running out a ten length winner of a Thirsk novice 29 days ago. Looks useful and capable of better but will want the rain to arrive.
Forever Blue
Forever Blue looked a nice prospect when winning a Haydock maiden (6f). It was heavy ground that day and given her pedigree it brought her stamina into play. Whether she needs juice in the ground is the question. Her dam won on quick ground so maybe she will be fine on a sound surface. The step up to 7f should bring out more improvement and she holds a Group 1 Fillies Mile entry. Yard won this race in 2018 with a once raced maiden winner.
Saturday Selection:
Goodwood
2:05 – Forever Blue – 13/2 @ Coral.
I will be back on Monday with the start of my review of last week’s action on the Knavesmire.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John