York Saturday
Sky Bet City of York Stakes (Group 1)
NOTABLE Speech (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) had the final word on the Knavesmire as the high-class five-year-old bounced back to his best with a decisive victory in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes. Sent off the 9/4 favourite, the Godolphin colt travelled prominently before taking command over a furlong out and quickening clear in the style of a horse fully at home at the trip on what was remarkably his first ever start over seven furlongs.
Lake Forest (William Haggas/Cieren Fallon) ran on to take second, finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, with Marvelman (Andrew Balding/P J McDonald) just edged out of the runner-up spot after attempting to make all the running.
Appleby said: “You’ve got to admire him. You get good horses who can do it at two and three, but when they do it at four and five you’ve got to doff your cap to them.
“This new seven-furlong Group 1 is what we needed in the UK and it is being well supported. A horse like him winning it will hopefully give the race plenty of kudos.”
Sky Bet Ebor Handicap
DAIQUIRI Bay (Alan King/Rossa Ryan) gave his connections a day to remember when edging a thrilling finish to the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. Drawn low and always within striking distance, the four-year-old moved smoothly into contention three furlongs from home and the 10/1 shot was driven towards the rail before joining issue inside the final furlong.
Hopewell Rock (George Boughey/Callum Rodriguez) fought him all the way to the line, with Opportunity (William Haggas/James Doyle) third, but Daiquiri Bay prevailed by a head in a finish worthy of Europe’s richest flat handicap.
The success made it three wins from three runs this season and confirmed the son of New Bay as one of the most progressive stayers in training, while also giving Alan King another notable prize on the flat to sit alongside his jumping achievements.
The winner proved very game, but the result might have been different had Callum Rodriguez not dropped his whip when challenging strongly on the runner-up, but on such trivial things racing fortunes ebb and flow.
King said: “It was a great ride from Rossa and I’m just blown away. This has been the plan since Ascot, after that Rossa said to put him away for the Ebor as he had a tough race.
“His preparation has gone great, the rain came and I almost think he’s a better horse on slow ground. It’s a very special day.”
ARCHIVIST (Hamad Al Jehani/Callum Rodriguez) took the step up from handicap company firmly in his stride to run out a visually stunning winner of the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes.
Produced from off the pace, he responded impressively when asked to go about his business, sweeping past his rivals over a furlong out before stretching clear to win by seven and a half lengths over Saber Strike (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) with Persica (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) keeping on for third place, another length and three-quarters away.
Winner of the valuable Coral Golden Mile at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Archivist was sent off at 9/1 in what looked a deeper contest but looked in a different league to his rivals on ground that was officially good to soft; the winning time, however, suggested the going was on the fast side of good.
Improving
Al Jehani said: “He’s improving quickly. After the Golden Mile at Goodwood, we knew he was improving and he’d been training nicely. We were waiting for this race and he’s won in a very good way again, I’m very happy for the team. I hope he’s a Group 1 horse. We’ll enjoy this, my first winner at York, so we’ll make a plan tomorrow.”
Richard Brown, representing Wathnan Racing, added: “That has slightly taken us all by surprise. We thought he had a big chance and James [Doyle, who rode Damysus in the Wathan first silks] had a difficult choice. We thought he was still progressing.
“We can probably be quite brave now. Hamed did ask: ‘what next?’, but I just said next go and get the trophy! We’ll think about it later.
“I think a bend is important to him. I know there’s a long straight here, but the bend helps him settle. Callum said he went way too soon but he was going so well he had no option.”
Rest of the card
The Sky Bet Melrose Handicap went to Infraad (William Haggas/Tom Marquand), the 10/3 joint-favourite proving his stamina over the extended mile and three-quarters as he kept on strongly to beat Galilean Quality by two lengths.
In the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap, Sondad (Michael & David Easterby/Joanna Mason) justified market support at 17/2, leading inside the final furlong and holding the fast-finishing Far Above Dream by a nose.
The Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes saw Sale Shark (Hugo Palmer/Oisin Murphy), take command inside the final furlong to beat the pace-setting Adonius by a length and a quarter at 17/2.
The meeting closed with the Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap, where 13/8 favourite Raammee (Roger Varian/Ray Dawson) overcame trouble at the start to lead inside the final furlong and repel Thunder Run by half a length.
YORK’S chief executive William Derby said: “A memorable four days saw some 25 horses that had already won a Group 1 race compete for record prize money in front of a knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd.
“A highlight was the visit of our Royal Patron who spent time with the unsung heroes who delivered the wider festival. Everyone at York can look back with huge pride on four days where world class racing and an investment in the racegoer experience contributed to a fabulous atmosphere.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported the meeting and made for such a wonderful occasion. It remains greatly to the credit of the York Race Committee that they took a long-term view to invest all data and betting-related media rights, including from World Pool, back into prize money. We hope everyone enjoyed the centerpiece of our season, whether they were here in person or following from afar.”