Liston puts Ebor rivals on canvas

Murtagh lands another big prize in York feature

SONNYBOYLISTON packed a punch in the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap to ensure Irish trainer Johnny Murtagh extended his summer of securing big British prizes.

The 10-1 shot, ridden by Ben Coen, edged out Quickthorn by a head after a protracted battle in the last furlong of the signature race of York’s Ebor meeting.

It was a second win in Europe’s richest handicap for former top jockey Murtagh, who was successful in his rookie 2014 season with Mutual Regard.

This season Murtagh secured his first win at Royal Ascot with Sandringham Stakes winner Create Belief and his first Glorious Goodwood scorer with Ottoman Emperor, who is on target for next month’s Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster.

Sonnyboyliston has an entry in the Melbourne Cup in November and had already attracted some bids from buyers Down Under. They may now become too tasty to turn down but Murtagh said his first instinct was to aim

Sonnyboyliston at next month’s Group One Irish Leger at the Curragh.

‘He’s a pretty good stayer,’ said Murtagh. ‘He has to improve a lot to get to the Irish Leger but he’s going to get a hike (in the handicap) for that. It’s the next logical step.

‘There have been a few people looking at him for the Melbourne Cup before today. I’m sure they will be on again but they will have to be big offers now.’

Three-time Derby-winning jockey Murtagh also showered praise on 19-year-old Coen. ‘He’s cool, he’s calm, he’s strong and has everything you need to be a good jockey,’ said the trainer. ‘He just needs to get on good horses.’ Valley Forge, trained by Andrew

Balding, secured a berth in the 2022 Ebor when he landed the Melrose Stakes under David Probert by half a length from Moshaawer on his handicap debut.

Marco Ghiani is running away with the apprentice jockeys’ title and the 22-year-old, who like Frankie Dettori hails from Sardinia, landed his biggest win yet on Real World in the Group Three Strensall Stakes.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who is aiming fast-improving Real World at the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October, said: ‘Marco is going to be one of the top jockeys in the future. He tries to copy Frankie but he has a long way to go.’

Another Godolphin horse, the Charlie Appleby-trained Space Blues, won the City Of York Stakes under William Buick and could next be aimed at the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October.