Ebor Takes Centre Stage Saturday

[Wandering Eyes]

Black-type races come thick and fast on Saturday, but it is the Sky Bet Ebor which is the main focus as the enhanced £500,000 storied handicap closes out the action at York. Born in 1843, Europe’s most valuable handicap, which next year gets even richer, has taken on a new dimension due to the ongoing obsession with the Melbourne Cup and the renewed emphasis on the staying division which was in evidence at this track only on Friday. The combination of owner Tony Bloom and trainer Willie Mullins has struck fear into the bookmaking fraternity and they are running scared of the partnership’s potentially well-handicapped Stratum (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who crept in at the bottom of the weights on Thursday. Successful in Newbury’s valuable JLT Cup over an extended two miles July 21, he faces a clutch of black-type performers such as the G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Teodoro (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and G3 John Porter S. scorer Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in a race that has drastically changed in nature over the years. “He looks to have a fantastic chance,” Patrick Mullins said. “You have to have luck in running, but we’re more than happy with him and we’re really looking forward to the race.”

As far as the European Pattern is concerned, there are eight group races on Saturday with the G2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile at Goodwood the most important in terms of status but not necessarily in reality, with the usual suspects lining up headed by the July 14 G2 Summer Mile winner Beat the Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}). He was fifth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood at the start of the month and the runner-up in that contest Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) is sent to York instead by Sir Michael Stoute. Back over the seven-furlong trip over which he has delivered his two most impressive performances when winning the 2017 G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood and Royal Ascot’s G3 Jersey S. June 20, Khalid Abdullah’s homebred will be a short price to take the G3 Sky Bet City of York S. despite the presence of the 2017 GI Shadwell Turf Mile hero and July 31 G2 Lennox S. runner-up Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the June 30 G3 Chipchase S. scorer Above the Rest (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}). “There was an uncertain forecast at Goodwood, they weren’t sure how much rain they were going to get, so we felt he was more sure of better ground at York,” explained Teddy Grimthorpe. “He must have fast ground, we think, so he runs here instead. He ran very well at Goodwood, I thought. A faster pace would have suited him there, but he stayed on and proved that he’s on his way back. I think he’s probably as effective over a mile as seven furlongs and we’ll be looking at races like the [G1] Prix du Moulin [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 9] and the [G1] Prix de la Foret [at ParisLongchamp Oct. 7] if all goes well.”

Also at Goodwood, the G3 Ladbrokes Prestige S. sees George Strawbridge’s July 26 Listed Star S. winner Look Around (GB) (Kingman {GB}) pit her wits against some potentially smart fillies in the race won last year by the subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Trainer Andrew Balding said, “Look Around was good at Sandown and she is a filly that we like a lot. She is still sort of learning, but hopefully she will run well.”

William Haggas saddles The Queen’s Magnetic Charm (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a Godolphin-bred half-sister to Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) who beat the subsequent winner Winter Light (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) by 3 1/4 lengths over six furlongs at Newbury Aug. 7. Haggas said, “I liked her when she won at Newbury, she won well there. I think she wants further, so this might prove a good trip for her. She’s got a bit to find with a few of them, but it was nice to see the second win, albeit at Brighton, recently.”

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