York Racecourse

From its launch in 2019, covering the five days of Royal Ascot, the World Pool has grown gradually to 33 race days this year across eight different countries. It is fair to expect to see that expansion continue apace. The international commingling of betting pools was the brainchild of Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which powers World Pool. Twenty-eight jurisdictions can now bet into that pool. "It is our vision to bring the world's finest racing to domestic customers all year round," states the World Pool...

Jeff Smith's G1 Nassau Stakes runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Arabian Queen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) had been winless in six starts since annexing her debut at Newmarket last year and rectified matters with a decisive success in Saturday's G3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York. The 3-1 favourite was settled in rear, with just one behind, for most of this extended one-mile test. Coming under pressure to close approaching the quarter-mile marker, she threaded her way into contention passing the furlong pole and kept on strongly...

Amo Racing's Angelo Buonarroti (Justify--Curlylocks {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was the second highest-priced lot when selling for €1-million at Arqana's Breeze-Up sale earlier this year and went some way to justifying that lofty price tag with a breakthrough success in Friday's British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes at York. The February-foaled chestnut, who first went through the ring for $135,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, was initially trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis, but was transferred to the Raphael Freire yard before posting a three-length debut ninth when highly tried...

Victorious Racing's 2023 G1 King's Stand Stakes hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}--Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko), on an enforced sabbatical for 329 days after registering that career high, added to his comeback win in this month's Listed Prix du Cercle with a dominant performance in Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The 3-1 second favourite was swiftly into stride on the far wing and chased the trailblazing Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) in second through the initial stages of this straight five-furlong dash. Easing...

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...

Rockcliffe Stud's Listed Empress Stakes victrix Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Pepita {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who collected minor prizes in last month's G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Molecomb Stakes, regained the winning thread with a pillar-to-post victory in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York. The 13-2 chance broke sharply and seized an immediate lead in this six-furlong 2-year-old contest. Holding a slender advantage throughout, she came under pressure soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final furlong to hold the late charge...

Brilliant horses like City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) are always on the line when it comes to reputation and aura and there was no disguising the fact that Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International represented his moment of truth regardless of prior achievements. Despite coming to York as a clear-cut 2-year-old champion, an impressive Derby winner and the current holder of an Eclipse, there was a tension in the atmosphere on the storied Knavesmire expanse that was accompanied by threatening and brooding clouds and a strange autumnal air....

With only five runners, Wednesday's G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes could have been short on entertainment but the opposite was the case as three runners created a stirring finish which saw Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) prevail. Handed a five-pound penalty due to his G1 Irish Derby exploits, Ballydoyle's Derby third was looking to do something out of the ordinary here and he had to work to get it over the line but luckily he is a grafter as well as a class act and proved well...

Aidan O'Brien trainee The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--What A Home {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive debut display tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh last month and stepped forward to deliver a track-record performance over the same trip in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York. The 2-1 second favourite was swiftly into stride and raced on the front end from flagfall in this one-turn test. Nudged along when threatened passing the quarter-mile...

Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes has attracted a field of 14, with just one of the 15 overnight contenders, Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), dropping out of York's third and final Group 1 contest of the week at Wednesday morning's declaration stage. The straight five-furlong dash will act as an unofficial championship decider between Australian raider Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who are one apiece in sprint showdowns this year, with the former annexing Royal Ascot's G1 King Charles III Stakes...

It was said to be a source of "great disappointment" to the BHA's Flat Pattern Committee that its partners in Europe could not unanimously agree on an upgrade to the G2 Sky Bet City of York Stakes back in February. Had the application been approved by the European Pattern Committee (EPC), it would have seen the the race become the only Group 1 to be run over seven furlongs in Britain. This was no hit-and-hope attempt by York to attain that status, rather the culmination of a 12-year-plan, in conjunction...

Eight distaffers will contest Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after two of the 10 overnight contenders were withdrawn before Tuesday morning's declaration stage. Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's G1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is set to renew rivalry with Curragh runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That Aidan O'Brien representative will be accompanied by stablemate and Irish Oaks 13th Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The latter had earlier accounted for the reopposing Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2...