15:15 York 29 Jul 2023
Sky Bet York Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 3YO plus
Winner £70,888 - 5 ran
towards rear, in touch, pushed along well over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside last, led under 110 yards out, drifted left, kept on strongly
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, pressed leader inside last, every chance, ran on, held closing stages
prominent, led over 1f out and ridden, soon edged left, headed under 110 yard out, no extra
held up in rear, headway when ridden and hung left well over 1f out, kept on but not quite pace to challenge
led, pushed along well over 1f out, headed over 1f out, edged left and faded inside last
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £6.40 |
| CSF | £10.04 (1, 4) |
| Win | £6.00 (1) |
| Place | £2.10 (1), £1.30 (4) |
| Exacta | £8.00 (1, 4) |
| Trifecta | £23.30 (1, 4, 5) |
Expert Analysis
A small but good quality field, which resulted in smart performances from the first 3 and very useful ones from the other 2, though it was a tactical affair (108% finishing speed) and the form may not be rock solid. The runners came down the centre in the home straight on ground that was more like “good” than the official “good to soft” on times.
ALFLAILA (116 here, 119 previously) ended last season with a bang and picked up the thread after a 294-day break, with a Master Trainer for getting one straight after an absence. He was held up and a shade free after a slow start, made an effort over 2f out then quickened for pressure to lead with about 100 yards to go, pushed out and drifting a bit left, but scoring a shade comfortably. He will need to find more to score at Group 1 level, but that is not out of the question given the strides he has made so far, while he would likely still be effective at 8f/9f given this was more of a test of speed than stamina.
MY PROSPERO (115 here, 119 previously) is operating just below the level he showed late in 2022, another respectable (but no better) effort here, and again looking lacking in acceleration. He was held up in third and took a while to respond before challenging under pressure in the final 1f. His Group 2 Saint-Cloud win last year came from the front and a return to more forcing tactics may be on the cards.
ROYAL CHAMPION (113 here, 115 previously) was on the bridle longest of the quintet, having raced in second, and briefly looked like winning when edging ahead in the penultimate 1f but was headed with about 100 yards to go, nonetheless close to his Royal Ascot form.
CHECKANDCHALLENGE (111 here and previously) returned to his best in a first-time visor, or seemed to in what was a rather muddling affair, held up after a rather slow start, making some headway over 2f out then edging left/one paced at a trip that may be a maximum for him.
MASHHOOR (108 here, 110 previously) had the run of things up front when winning at the Curragh the time before and was not able to repeat the feat despite setting fairly soft fractions until after 2f out, running respectably all the same.
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 5 | Sir Busker | 1 | 6 | 9 8 | - | 845255 | 39 days | W Knight (163 miles) | Ben Curtis | 15/ 2 | 2:11.88 |
| 2021 | Good to Firm | 5 | Bangkok | 1 | 5 | 9 6 | - | 218144 | 16 days | A Balding (216 miles) | David Probert | 14/ 1 | 2:16.43 |
| 2020 | Good | 7 | Aspetar | 7 | 5 | 9 6 | - | 51410-2 | 20 days | H & R Charlton (212 miles) | Jason Watson | 11/ 1 | 2:07.51 |
| 2019 | Soft | 6 | Elarqam | 3 | 4 | 9 6 | - | 34-4131 | 22 days | C & M Johnston (45 miles) | Dane O'Neill | 7/ 1 | 2:12.47 |
| 2018 | Good to Soft | 7 | Thundering Blue | 6 | 5 | 9 6 | - | 17-5102 | 14 days | D Menuisier (248 miles) | Fran Berry | 5/ 1 | 2:09.41 |
| 2017 | Good to Soft | 7 | Success Days | 3 | 5 | 9 3 | - | 310-242 | 27 days | K J Condon | Shane Foley | 3/ 1 | 2:10.59 |
| 2016 | Good to Firm | 5 | Time Test | 5 | 4 | 9 3 | - | 1410-13 | 21 days | H & R Charlton (212 miles) | P J Smullen | 1/ 2 | 2:06.93 |
| 2015 | Good to Firm | 8 | Tullius | 6 | 7 | 9 3 | - | 44-1445 | 21 days | A Balding (216 miles) | P Makin | 10/ 1 | 2:06.25 |
| 2014 | Good to Firm | 7 | Sheikhzayedroad | 2 | 5 | 9 3 | - | 136921 | 28 days | D M Simcock (163 miles) | M Lane | 7/ 1 | 2:06.26 |
| 2013 | Good to Firm | 6 | Mukhadram | 5 | 4 | 9 2 | - | 425-123 | 21 days | W Haggas (163 miles) | Paul Hanagan | 4/ 9 | 2:07.18 |
| 2012 | Good to Firm | 9 | Sri Putra | 4 | 6 | 9 2 | - | 97-1657 | 21 days | R Varian (163 miles) | Neil Callan | 12/ 1 | 2:05.74 |
| 2011 | Good | 7 | Twice Over | 1 | 6 | 9 5 | - | 31-1965 | 38 days | Sir H Cecil (163 miles) | Tom Queally | 5/ 2 | 2:09.99 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 8 | Summit Surge | 6 | 6 | 9 2 | - | 1-46302 | 55 days | L Cumani (163 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 8/ 1 | 2:08.82 |
| 2009 | Good | 9 | Kirklees | 1 | 5 | 9 2 | - | 2-31401 | 22 days | S bin Suroor (163 miles) | Frankie Dettori | EVENS | 2:10.27 |
| 2008 | Good to Firm | 7 | Pipedreamer | 11 | 4 | 9 2 | - | 11-3333 | 21 days | J & T Gosden (163 miles) | Seb Sanders | 2/ 1 | 2:08.28 |
| 2007 | Heavy | 8 | Stage Gift | 7 | 4 | 9 2 | - | 721-081 | 44 days | S bin Suroor (163 miles) | Jamie Spencer | 8/ 1 | 2:13.31 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 5 | Best Alibi | 3 | 3 | 8 6 | - | 314-263 | 27 days | Sir M Stoute (163 miles) | Ryan Moore | 2/ 5 | 2:07.93 |
