Another Ebor festival is in the books, the Flagship event the Ebor Handicap went to Ireland as the Johnny Murtagh trained Sonnyboyliston (Power) claimed the time honoured race and punched his ticket to the Melbourne Cup in the process with connections already keen to signal their intention of bringing the 4yo Gelding down under for the first Tuesday in November.
As highlighted during the week the festival held 3 Group 1 races over the 4 days.
Globe trotting Superstar Mishriff (Make Believe) finally ticked the box of being a Group 1 winner on home soil in the Juddmonte International Stakes to to his earning in excess of £11 Million. The Arc is firmly on the agenda but a quick trip to Over the Irish Sea for the Irish Champion Stakes beforehand is a possibility.
Speaking of the Arc, it’s now the number 1 target for the incredibly stating 3yo Filly Snowfall (Deep Impact) after she scored a third Group 1 this season in the Yorkshire Oaks joining an Elite Group of Fillies who have completed the English/Irish/Yorkshire Oaks Hat trick.
Friday gave the Yorkshire locals plenty to cheer about as hometown filly Winter Power(Bungle IntheJungle) scorched the turf to claim the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m. The 3yo was scoring at the highest level for the first time and connections have already made it clear that the plan is to return for the race next season.
Away from York there was plenty of other high quality action but the stand out performance belonged to The Queens 2yo Colt Reach For The Moon (Sea The Stars) in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown, the Gosden trained Colt looks to be. Genuine contender for the major 2yo races at the back end of the season and has to be on the shortlist for next seasons classics
Ireland.
Momentum continues to build towards Next months Irish Champions weekend and Saturdays card at The Curragh included to Key lead up races for the 2yos.
The colts fought out the Group 2 Futurity Stakes which saw Point Lonsdale extend his record to 4 from 4, the son of Australia ran away by just over 4 lengths to continue trainer Aiden O’Briens dominance in the race with a 14th success. Point Lonsdale is already a warm favourite for next season 2000 Guineas and Derby and right now it’s a question of who can challenge him?
For the Fillies there was the Group 2 Debutante Stakes, it was last Group 3 winner Agartha (Caravaggio) how put her hand up yet again to take the prize, there are some big shoes to fill as the last 6 winners of the Debutante have gone on to Group 1 glory , but it would seem that Agartha is more than capable of continuing that record and will get her first opportunity to do so in 3 weeks time in the Grp 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
