By Sean Cronin
Clive Cox trainee Diligently (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}–Anna Of Lorraine {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) had failed to strike in five prior outings, but timed his breakthrough success to perfection and swooped late to garner Thursday's £626,462 Harry's Half Million By Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York.
The February-foaled bay, a 30,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned £100,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling, was positioned in a handy seventh after an alert getaway in this six-furlong contest. Inching closer from halfway, the 22-1 chance was bustled along to go fourth entering the final furlong and kept on relentlessly under a drive to deny 11-8 favourite Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) by a head in the dying strides. The victory provided Cox with back-to-back renewals having garnered last year's edition with Dragon Leader (Ire) (El Kabeir).
Thrilling finish to the #HarrysHalfMillion By @GoffsUK Premier Yearling Stakes!
Arizona Blaze looks home but 22/1 chance Diligently has other ideas, snatching the £250,000 first prize on the line for @Rossaryan15 and Clive Cox 🥇 pic.twitter.com/6jW7gnPdYI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 22, 2024
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