York Update winner @ 100/30 & 40/1 second

The highlight on day two of the Sky Bet York Ebor Festival was the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks and Minnie Hauk provided Aidan O'Brien with his ninth victory in the twelve furlongs contest. The Frankel filly was following up her victories in the Epsom and Irish Oaks and proved too strong for Estrange winning by three and a half lengths. Danny Tudhope moved up stylishly on the runner-up but once Ryan Moore asked his filly to pick up, the response was impressive as she pulled clear. The Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup are seemingly on the agenda for the winner, while David O'Meara's four year old produced a career best effort on unfavourably quick ground. I would be tempted to drop the Cheveley Park Stud owned grey back to ten furlongs and target the Group 1 Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp (5th October). Estrange isn't short of speed and a slow ground ten furlongs may prove her optimum trip.

The Group 2 Lowther Stakes, which kicked off the card, was fought out by two promising fillies, namely Royal Fixtation and American Queen, with Ed Walker's runner prevailing by a length. Runner-up behind Venetia Sun in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the July course last time, she came with a well timed run on the outside under William Buick. The second had won by a dozen lengths on her debut at Haydock and this was a major rise in class. Ryan Moore's mount held every chance but couldn't match the winner's turn of foot. A rematch appears likely in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (27th September). 

As regards the York Ebor Update, Stellar Sunrise (100/30) justified strong support when winning the seven furlongs nursery. Drawn wide in stall 19 and racing off a mark of 88, Oisin Murphy did a fine job to get his partner in a good position by the time the leaders turned for home. Leading over two furlongs out, Andrew Balding's Space Blues colt stayed on strongly to win cosily by two lengths. A progressive juvenile, he has deserved a crack at something better and could be Pattern stakes bound. 

The two selections in the Clipper Handicap Stakes over a mile produced mixed results. Cerulean Bay (advised @ 40/1) ran a terrific race to finish second only being denied by a length. Once again, Murphy rode an excellent race overcoming his wide berth in stall 17. David O'Meara's runner held every chance inside the final quarter of a mile couldn't get the better of the warm favourite Bullet Point, who was gaining a much deserved win following two narrow defeats at Ascot. The other selection Old Cock was slowly away again and immediately dropped in. He had no chance from there - the race was dominated by runners who were prominent from the outset. As far as the Galtres Stakes is concerned, the less said the better - one of the selections ran herself into the ground and was never going to get home, while the other shaped like a non stayer having finished in front of the winner on her previous start.

I am working at York on Friday and Saturday for Racing TV and will therefore update the Diary over the weekend. Fingers crossed we can have a successful couple of days.