SHEER CLASS
York star out to make history in Arc
SPECIAL TO SEA
THE highlight of the Ebor meeting was the effortless victory of William Haggastrained Sea Of Class in the Yorkshire Oaks. Twelve months earlier, John Gosden’s Enable had beaten Coronet five lengths as she used the race as a stepping stone to victory in October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
After beating the same rival two- and- a- quarter lengths, Sea Of Class is already short odds to follow suit. She is certainly bred to win the Arc and make history for her owners, the Tsui family, who raced both her sire, 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars, and his dam, 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea.
THE LION ROARS
ROARING LION seemed destined to fritter away his talent but trainer John Gosden insisted the playboy colt simply needed to grow up.
Further proof that has happened came as he backed up his Eclipse Stakes win with victory in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes. The fact his owners, Sheik Fahad Al Thani and his brothers, sponsor the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 makes that a definite race on his agenda.
WANING WARRIOR
THE International Stakes fourth place for Saxon Warrior means the colt has been beaten in all four races since winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
Perhaps the route back to victory will be to drop back to a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 20.
SAINTS ALIVE
THREE of the first four home in the Great Voltigeur Stakes — winner Old Persian, third-placed Kew Gardens and fourth Wells Farhh Go — meet in the St Leger at Doncaster three weeks on Saturday.
The big question is whether they are joined at Doncaster by Lah Ti Dar, the hugely impressive 10-length winner of the Galtres Stakes. Her jockey, Frankie Dettori, is keen to run and trainer Gosden could be persuaded. It’s just a question of whether owners Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber feel the same.
QUICK, QUICK, SLOW
MASSIVE though the Nunthorpe Stakes win of 40-1 shot Alpha Delphini was for trainer Bryan Smart, it was hard not to be underwhelmed by below- par favourite Battaash for the second year running. Maybe Battaash doesn’t like York. Or maybe he will always be impossible to predict.
BONUS HUNTER
STRADIVARIUS’S victory in the Lonsdale Stakes under Dettori completing a four-race sequence of staying races that earned the £1million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers Bonus.
But it was hard work. If he races again this season, it will probably be in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on October 20. But owner Bjorn Nielsen may let Stradivarius rest up for another shot at the bonus next year.
MILLIONAIRES ROW
THE Sky Bet Ebor Handicap will be worth £1m next year and it’s easy to see Muntahaa trying to defend his crown while Melrose Handicap winner Ghostwatch has already secured a qualifier’s berth. Keep an eye out for Titus. Hugely impressive in winning Friday’s Sky Bet Handicap, he looks an Ebor contender.
PERFECT TIMING
THE last few winners arrived at a trickle but that meant that when Mark Johnston became Britain’s most successful trainer as Poet’s Society gave his 4,194th win on Thursday, it happened at York. Perfect stage for his historic achievement.