GIAVELLOTTO proved his liking for the Knavesmire by winning the Group 2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup for the second year running on Friday, and was even more impressive this time, with Oisin Murphy looking around for dangers over a furlong out and finding none.
The 7/2 chance was able to coast to victory over Vauban and Gregory, scoring by four and three quarters of a length and three parts of a length, with favourite Tower of London – who had beaten Giavellotto at Riyadh and Meydan earlier in the year – never threatening and beating just one home in the six-runner field.
Despite this impressive win, Botti doesn’t envisage going to Royal Ascot for the Gold Cup and may even drop the five-year-old back in trip.
“It’s good to be back and it’s a race that suits him as the track is perfect,” said the winning trainer. “We’ve tried several times over two miles and while I’m not saying he doesn’t stay, because he has run well a few times, it does stretch him. The Gold Cup trip is too far for him.”
“I’ll need to discuss with the owners, but the plan was not to go to Ascot. The Irish St Leger is a race we considered last year, and we didn’t go but I would say that could be his target.”
DEVOTED Queen (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), fitted with a hood for the first time, maintained her unbeaten record in the Michael Seely Memorial on Friday, that race currently run in the guise of the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes.
The Kingman three-year-old was workmanlike in victory at Kempton on her previous start, but turned on the style on debut, and did so again as she got the better of Spiritual (John & Thady Gosden/Kieran Shoemark) by two lengths over the mile trip.
“That was really nice,” said Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam. “She’s really grown up and she was very professional. The hood definitely helped, and Will said she’s really improved from her last run so she’s going the right way.
“I mentioned the Coronation Stakes to Charlie, and he said: ‘see what Will thinks,’ Will said it’s definitely something to consider so we’ll see how she comes out of it. He also mentioned that she could do with a bit of juice in the ground so that might come into consideration as well, hopefully she’s given herself a few options.”
BETTY Clover, bred and owned by Eve Johnson Houghton, and named after an aunt, reversed previous Salisbury form with Running Queen (third here) to land the Listed Marygate Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
The daughter of Time Test was ridden well by Georgia Dobie and battled gamely to come through from the back of the field to get the better of Miss Lamai (Karl Burke/Callum Rodriguez) by half a length.
The trainer – on duty at Newbury – was over the moon with the result, and unsurprisingly so given the extent of her involvement. Royal Ascot is on the agenda now, but a decision needs to be made as to whether the Queen Mary or Albany Stakes is more suitable.
“I bred her and I’m so wildly excited, I just can’t believe it.
“I thought she had a chance of turning the form round with Running Queen, who got first run on us last time.
“Georgia gave her the most beautiful ride. I’m very proud of my jockey, she doesn’t get many chances and bloody hell she’s good. She should be saluted for that.
“We have to look at Ascot. I don’t know which race. It’s a very fast five furlongs at York and she travelled all right into it, but we’ll have a think.”