Group One winners in six
different countries feature among 16 entries for the £100,000 Group Two Sky Bet
York Stakes (2.55pm), highlight of the Sky Bet-sponsored card at York on
Saturday, July 27.
Saeed bin Suroor sent out
Stage Gift (2007) and Kirklees (2009) to glory in the extended 10-furlong
contest and the Godolphin handler may this year be represented by Hunter's
Light (8/1), who has posted Group One victories in Italy and Dubai, plus Aesop's
Fables (33/1), successful in France's Prix Jean Prat last term.
Unbridled Command (9/1) captured the
Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park, USA, prior to joining current trainer Ed
Dunlop and the four-year-old could re-oppose the second from that race, the
Jeremy Noseda-trained Grandeur (8/1).
Wigmore Hall (20/1), from the stable of
Michael Bell, also boasts Grade One-winning form in North America, having been
successful in the two latest renewals of the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at
Woodbine, Canada.
Multiple South African
champion trainer Mike de Kock has engaged The Apache (8/1), a dual Grade
One victor in his native country. The six-year-old is due to make his British
debut on the Knavesmire following three excellent runs on turf at Meydan,
Dubai, at the start of the year.
He was second to
Godolphin's Sajjhaa in a pair of Group One contests over nine furlongs, the
Dubai Duty Free and the Jebel Hatta, and started his campaign with a cosy
success over the same trip in the Group Two Al Rashidiya at the end of January.
Steve Jell, assistant to
Mike de Kock, commented today: "The Apache will work on Tuesday (tomorrow)
and then we will decide whether to run him at York.
"His form in Dubai
was very good and the ground out there was pretty firm, so he shouldn't have a
problem with quick going.
"His main aim is the
Arlington Million at Chicago next month (August 17). This is a prep-race for
that and he will improve for his first run since March."
Further South African
interest may be provided by Dancewiththedevil (40/1), a five-time Grade
One winner in the rainbow nation, whose current trainer Roger Varian could also
run 2012 Sky Bet York Stakes victor Sri Putra (25/1). Germany is also
set to be represented by recent Hamburg Group Three scorer Neatico (8/1),
from the in-form stable of Peter Schiergen.
Sky Bet make Mukhadram 6/4
favourite following a pair of excellent efforts at the highest level. The
William Haggas-trained four-year-old went down by a neck to Al Kazeem in the
Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and came home an unlucky third behind
the same horse in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park.
Three-year-olds Ashdan
(14/1, trained by John Gosden) and 2,000 Guineas third Van Der Neer
(20/1 - Richard Hannon) have both shown high class form, while King George
River (33/1) could make his first appearance since finishing second to
subsequent French Derby hero Intello at Newmarket in April. Recent course and
distance winner Chancery (40/1), the talented but quirky Gabrial (20/1)
and Listed victor Rewarded (33/1) complete the entries.
Michael Shinners, Racing
PR Manager at Sky Bet, said today: "We are delighted with the range of
international entries for the Sky Bet York Stakes, with Group One winners from
around the world set to head to the Knavesmire.
"Mukhadram looks
likely to be a short-priced favourite following his strong efforts at Royal
Ascot and Sandown, while three-year-olds Ashdan and Van Der Neer could be
fascinating contenders."
Sky Bet York Stakes - Sky
Bet prices:
6/4 Mukhadram, 8/1
Hunter's Light, Neatico, Grandeur, The Apache, 9/1 Unbridled Command, 14/1
Ashdan, 20/1 Van Der Neer, Wigmore Hall, Gabrial, 25/1 Sri Putra, 33/1 Aesop's
Fables, King George River, Rewarded, 40/1 Dancewiththedevil, Chancery
Each way 1/5 odds, 1-2-3
A seven-race card at York
also features the £50,000 Sky Bet Dash (3.30pm), which has been won by
top-class sprinters La Cucaracha, Lesson In Humility, Hawkeyethenoo and Hoof
It.
The 36 entries for the
six-furlong handicap include Gabriel's Lad, Enrol, Tropics
and Body And Soul, who all currently head Sky Bet's market at 10/1 along
with the Hugo Palmer-trained Khubala, a close fourth in the Wokingham
Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 22.
Palmer commented:
"Khubala has been in really good order since Royal Ascot and I hope York
gets some rain. Frankie Dettori said that day that he was fine on quick ground
but he is seven to 10 pounds better with a little bit of cut in the ground.
"He wouldn't want
really fast jarring ground but, if he runs, I'd like to think he would have a
good chance.
"He didn't have a lot
of choice in the Wokingham, with six or eight horses on his side, and he won
his side of the race. He does certainly appreciate some cover and likes to run
through gaps."
Michael Shinners added:
"It looks set to be a typically fiercely-competitive renewal of the Sky
Bet Dash and we are happy to go 10/1 the field with five places on offer for
each-way customers.
Sky Bet Dash - Sky Bet
prices:
10/1 Khubala, Gabriel's
Lad, Enrol, Tropics, Body And Soul, 12/1 Mass Rally, 14/1 Dick Bos, Rodrigo De
Torres, Elusivity, Baccarat, Fast Shot, Mississippi, 16/1 Prodigality, Tarooq,
Al's Memory, Rasaman, 20/1 Pearl Ice, Farlow, Ahern, Nasharra, Jamaican Bolt,
Barnet Fair, Gramercy, Lucky Beggar, 25/1 Regal Parade, Al Khan,
Summerinthecity, Line Of Reason, Bajan Tryst, Mehdi, Seachantach, 33/1 West
Leake Diman, Heavy Metal, Secret Witness, Bogart, Fitz Flyer
Each Way 1/4 odds,
1-2-3-4-5
No comments:
Post a Comment