York Stakes target for Ascot victor Claymore

ROYAL ASCOT winner Claymore will head to the Sky Bet York Stakes next month as he bids for Group Two glory.

The Jane Chapple-Hyamtrained son of New Bay upset the odds when powering to a length-and-three-quarters success in the Hampton Court Stakes, overturning Reach For The Moon, who was odds-on to give the Queen a winner at the Royal meeting.

Claymore had previously chased home subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail in the Craven at Newmarket to start his three-year-old campaign, before being beaten by a wide draw in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Paris-Longchamp.

Yet the Newmarket-based Australian trainer’s faith in the Mary Slack-owned colt was unswerving and he answered every bell under Adam Kirby to take the Group Three prize and a Royal scalp.

“I’m glad I know my horse,” said Chapple-Hyam. “We knew what he was capable of. We knew that he could do it and it wasn’t a surprise.

“If you took Claymore out, Reach For The Moon was still a good winner.”

Claymore will go up in class while remaining over the same 10-furlong trip at York, although plans thereafter remain fluid. “Claymore is going for the York Stakes on July 23,” she added. “With him, we will take each step as it comes.”

Chapple-Hyam gained Group Two success with Saffron Beach in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes – with her threeand-a-half-length success visually one of the most impressive of the meeting. Last season’s Sun Chariot winner will now attempt to add a second Group One victory of her career at Deauville next month, where she could meet Australian star Verry Elleegant.