York Ebor Review

It was a pleasure to attend three of the four days of the York Ebor Festival this week - the racing has been of the highest quality, the weather was kind and the racecourse is unrivalled - everything about the place is class. The final day, in particular, was heaving and like a throw back to the 1990s and early 2000s. 

There were some spectacular performances with Baaeed proving the headline act in the Juddmonte International on Tuesday. William Haggas' superstar didn't disappoint with his winning run extending to ten with another imperious display. I spoke to William on Friday and he was understandably delighted. As he said, 'everyone has an opinion' about where the son of Sea The Stars should head next. The Irish Champion Stakes and Arc remain an option.

John Quinn has done a magnificient job with the mare Highfield Princess and there was no fluke about her win in the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday. Dropping back to five furlongs for only the second time in her career, she had sufficient pace to lie up with the likes of The Platinum Queen before she quickened up to win with something in hand. I had my doubts about the trip, plus the quick turnaround following her first Group 1 win in France less than a fortnight earlier, she answered her critics in no uncertain terms. The mare has won four big pots this term - a conditions event at Newcastle on Good Friday, the Group 2 Duke of York, Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. She is a credit to her connections.

I was very impressed with Noble Style's victory in the Gimcrack Stakes on Friday. The unbeaten son of Kingman had created a good impression on his debut at Ascot in the spring but was forced to miss the Royal meeting. He looked rusty on his return at Newmarket recently but that put him spot on for this and he came from last to first to mow down another previously unbeaten colt Marshman inside the final furlong. They are two smart juveniles but the winner was firmly on top and won going away by over a length. Bred to stay further, his jockey believes he get seven furlongs this term and a mile next year. Charlie Appleby won the prize with Blue Point and he developed into a Group 1 performer. I would expect the same of Noble Style. The once raced Chuzzlewitt only finished seventh but don't give up on Kevin Ryan's Showcasing colt. The trainer was waxing lyrical about the horse at the preview night on Tuesday and I spoke to him after the race. Kevin thought he ran well and is one to follow.

The Group 2 Lonsdale Stakes lost some of his lustre following the withdrawals of Stradivarius and Trueshan. However, the two mile event was won in spectacular fashion by last year's Ebor runner-up Quickthorn. A former Royal Ascot winner, Hughie Morrison's five year old has developed into a high-class stayer and he dominated from the outset. Tom Marquand's mount built up a healthy advantage racing down the backstraight and never looked like being caught. A fourteen lengths winner, he looks capable of winning at Group 1 level in the Autumn. Races such as the Prix du Cadran and Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp are likely to feature on his agenda and he has proved his versatility groundwise. On this evidence, he would have run well in the Ascot Gold Cup but his trainer forgot to enter him.

Despite the victories of Chaldean (7/1), Blue For You (8/1), Noble Style (7/2) and Soulcombe (6/1) I was disappointed with the results for the York Ebor Update. The most frustrating selection was Euchen Glen who was unlucky not to win the Sky Bet Ebor. Drawn low, his jockey decided to drop him in last, a position he still held turning for home. In a steadily run race on a front runners track, he couldn't have been a worse position. Jim Goldie's nine year old made rapid late headway and was only beaten three and a half lengths in seventh. He finished on the bridle and had plenty more to give.  A stronger early pace would have made a huge difference but this felt like one that got away. 

The Julie Camacho interview in the Update has proved profitable with Ballyconneely Bay (100/30) and Riversway (15/2) winning at Hamilton and Chester respectively this week.

Speaking to William Haggas on Friday, he reported that Khanjar runs at Newmarket on Friday and then a decision will be made on the Ayr Gold Cup. He also said Pride of Priory rather than La Yakel will represent him in the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton on the same day. Keep an eye on La Yakel though because he possesses plenty of potential. 

In other news, I spoke to my www.racingtv.com colleague Jess Stafford at York and she said Maksud (her father runs the Thurloe Thoroughbreds syndicate) could head to Ascot early next month for a heritage handicap over a mile and a half. Featured in the Signiciant Sales section of Ahead On The Flat, the son of Golden Horn finished runner-up behind Secret State in a similar event at Goodwood last month and had subsequent Melrose Stakes winner Soulcombe back in fourth. Look out for him on Saturday 3rd September at the Berkshire venue.