Ebor Festival Day Two Preview: Sea Set To Be Class Act

[Wandering Eyes]

Yorkshire Oaks

On day two of the Ebor Festival, York Racecourse plays host to the Group 1, Darley Yorkshire Oaks. The race is open to both fillies and mares, three years and older and run over a distance of one mile and four furlongs where eight runners are set to face the starter. With top class names, this will be very competitive and will certainly provide its audiences with some cracking Group 1 action.

William Haggas’s stable star Sea Of Class is a horse who has lived up to her name to date and will be ridden by James Doyle in the competitive race. The daughter of Sea The Stars has a seriously impressive form and has won three out of her four starts. The three-year-old stormed home under Doyle to win the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh last month with ease and style. She is the current favourite in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks but can she continue this impressive form?  The trainer commented when interviewed by Harry Walter of Racebets:

“She’s in really good shape and she’s very well. I hope she continues the improvement she’s shown this season. I’m really looking forward to her because I think she’s a filly with a lot of talent. It’s a proper race, mind. Coronet is there, Laurens is in there too and us. It’s an exciting race.”

Karl Burke-trained Laurens is another hot contender. The daughter of Siyouni will be ridden by PJ McDonald and has a seriously impressive form to date. The three-year-old filly has won five out of her seven starts on the track and bids to make it to six at York. On her last outing, she keenly galloped home and held on gamely from the host of rivals in the Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, France, in June.

John Gosden-trained Coronet is set to steered by Frankie Dettori and is another tough contender who will be eager to make her mark. The daughter of Dubawi fought a tough race to finish third on her last outing at Ascot last month in the King George.

Aidan O’Brien is triple-handed in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks where he will be represented by Magic Wand, Bye Bye Baby and Flattering. Stable jockey Ryan Moore takes the ride on Magic Wand. The daughter of Galileo will be set to make a comeback after finishing fifth in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh last month. Perhaps it is Ballydoyle representative Bye Bye Baby who we should be keeping an eye on as she finished a spot above her stablemate Magic Wand in the Irish Darley Oaks.

The three-year-old filly is set to be ridden by Wayne Lordan and may be one to keep an eye on to price each way. She ran well and kept on well under pressure at the Curragh last month against fierce competition.

Selection: Sea The Class

Fairyland and Seamie Heffernan winning the Cold Move EBF Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh last May

Sky Bet Lowther Stakes

The Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes takes kicks off day two of the Ebor Festival. The six-furlong challenge is only open to two-year-old fillies and fields nine runners.

Aidan O’Brien has just one representative in the race as Ryan Moore rides Fairyland. The daughter of Kodiac has only had three starts and will be returning to the track after a nine-week break, but has had previous very good six-furlong form and will be a strong contender if she returns in peak form.

Another of John Gosden’s stable stars, Angel’s Hideaway, is set to be steered by Frankie Dettori and will be a big form player in the race. The daughter of Dark Angel impressed connections on her latest outing at Ascot where the filly comfortably won the Group 3 Princess Margret Keeneland Stakes.

Richard Fahey-trained Flawless Jewel will be ridden by Paul Hanagan. The daughter of Kheleyf may struggle when facing such tough competition but should not be totally brushed under the mat. The two-year-old has only had two outings to date, so inexperience may catch her but her current form is 12.

Selection: Fairyland

Seniority wins from farside Sun Lover in Classified Stakes at Doncaster

 

The Clipper Logistics Handicap

This handicap fields 20 runners and is set to be an interesting and hotly contested affair. Ran over one mile it is open to horses three years and older.

William Haggas has a triple hand in the handicap. It is his stable star Seniority that will be gaining the most attention, however. The four-year-old is set to be ridden by Ryan Moore and connections are hopeful that the chestnut gelding will continue with his progress from Goodwood where he took the Mile Golden Handicap. The son of Dubawi ran an impressive race at Goodwood and was clearly in command close to home.

Roger Varian-trained Sharja Bridge has only had six starts to date but it is hoped this one-mile handicap may be his ticket back into the winners’ enclosure. Connections of the son of Oasis Dream are hopeful that the drop back in trip to a mile will suit the four-year-old.

William Haggas-trained Original Choice may be another horse to study on the card. The son of Dragon Pulse is set to be ridden by James Doyle who also steered the gelding to finish in the third position on his last two outings, both at Goodwood. Interestingly, the four-year-old ran with just three days in between each run and finished third on both occasions. On the latter, he looked and performed just as well if not better than his run three days previous.

Selection: Seniority

Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes

Nine runners go to post in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed race), which takes place over one mile and four furlongs.

Luca Cumani’s Alwaysandforever will be partnered with Ryan Moore and pair are expected to put on a performance for the York racegoers. The four-year-old filly showed certain elements of greenness as she tended to wander but stayed on gamely and still stormed home to win at Newmarket last month.

David O’Meara’s Isabella will have the red-hot James Spencer in the saddle. The daughter of Galileo will return to York this week after having her last outing at the track last month where she finished fourth when ridden by Philip Makin. The filly has not the most consistent form but may be one to watch in the betting market.

William Haggas-trained What A Home is set to be ridden by James Doyle and will be an interesting competitor. The daughter of Lope De Vega put on a good performance on her last outing to finish third in the Prix Luth Enchantee (Listed race) at Clairefontaine in France at the end of last month and connections will be hopeful the four-year-old will improve from this previous outing.

Selection: Alwaysandforever

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