York Racecourse

Saturday's European black-type count stands at a baker's dozen, with eight group races in Britain and Ireland alone featuring several movers and shakers towards the elite level kicking off with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in York's G3 Strensall S. and culminating five hours later with the fellow Sir Michael Stoute-trained Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) in the G3 Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill S. at Windsor. Nostrum was surprisingly beaten by fellow TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Thoroughbred S. last time, but is...

Silver Racing's G2 July S. runner-up Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never--Lady Aquitaine, by El Prado {Ire}) was unable to concede weight all round when following up in a Newmarket novices' heat earlier this month and rebounded in style to cause a 16-1 upset for the William Haggas stable in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York. Comfortable in rear until surging into contention after halfway, he challenged the leading wave underneath the stands' side fence approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly, despite drifting left...

Mick and Janice Mariscotti's ultra-consistent 6-year-old gelding Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Promise Me {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) settled for placings in this term's G1 Gold Cup and G1 Goodwood Cup and exacted revenge on Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) with a determined effort in Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York. Coltrane, a 14-length runner-up in this marathon contest last year, had risen through the staying ranks to notch victories in last term's G2 Doncaster Cup and this term's G3 Sagaro S. and raced...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Sea Siren {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was unable to land a telling blow when fifth behind stablemate Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last month's G1 Irish Oaks and stepped out of the shadows to claim a career high in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, becoming the 99th Group 1 winner for her sire. The 9-1 chance, who had earlier outbobbed Irish Oaks runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in Newbury's...

Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}--Kathoe {Ire}, by Fayruz {GB}) impressed when annexing Newbury's Weatherbys Super Sprint by daylight last month and pounced late to secure a fourth win in five starts, upped to six furlongs for the first time, in Thursday's G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York. The 2-1 favourite, who had earlier snagged early-season wins over five furlongs at Windsor and Salisbury, was sharply into stride and settled under cover behind the leaders in fifth after the initial...

Just 35 minutes after Ryan Moore had given a copybook off-the-pace ride in the G2 Great Voltigeur, Frankie Dettori provided a masterclass of his own with a pillar-to-post exhibition aboard Shadwell's Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Handassa {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) in a stellar renewal of York's G1 Juddmonte International as the Knavesmire crowd was treated to high-end examples of elite horsemanship on the opening day of the Ebor Festival. The G1 Prince Of Wales's S. victor was sharply into stride and soon held a three-length buffer, with Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr})...

Coolmore and Westerberg's Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had failed to get his nose in front in three starts since saluting in last term's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud and bounced back under a Ryan Moore masterclass to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. Detached in rear and patiently ridden as the hitherto undefeated Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) set searching fractions up front, the 4-1 chance inched ever closer in the straight to launch his challenge...

Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation--Just Wondering {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) bettered a debut third at Newbury with a breakthrough score at Ascot last month and continued on the upgrade with a decisive success in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at York. Racing under a firm hold in a handy fifth through the early fractions of this seven-furlong test, he loomed large out wide passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out once quickening to the fore approaching the final furlong to hold the late threat...

Shadwell's ultra-consistent Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Adhwaa {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) had not been sighted since annexing October's G3 Darley S. at Newmarket, but was ready, willing and able to deliver a decisive burst for a career best in Saturday's G2 Sky Bet York S. on the Knavesmire. The Owen Burrows trainee, who also saluted in last term's G3 Strensall S. at this venue, employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled into a smooth rhythm with just one rival behind until turning for home. Taking closer order in the...

Craig Bernick and John Camilleri's 3-year-old filly Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Ring The Bell {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) did not have the benefit of an early-season outing heading into Friday's Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. at York, but that was of little consequence as she found plentiful reserves at the business end of a thrilling renewal to emerge with a career high. The Jessica Harrington trainee shaped with promise when posting a debut fourth at Gowran Park in September and shed maiden status going one mile at Leopardstown...

Karl Burke notched an exacta in last term's Listed Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies' S. at York and repeated the dose when once-raced winner Got To Love A Grey (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Regatta {Fr}, by Layman) outlasted stablemate Dorothy Lawrence (GB) (Soldier's Call) in this year's renewal of the straight five-furlong dash. Got To Love A Grey went postward as the 5-2 second choice,  coming back off a six-length tally at Nottingham last month, and broke sharply from the far-side stall to seize an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end...

George Strawbridge's 5-year-old mare Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Alive Alive Oh {GB}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), seen out just once since 2021, was fit and raring to go for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York and collected a fourth straight pattern-race rosette with a narrow victory in the extended 10-furlong contest. The April-foaled bay, whose resume also features wins in the G3 Prix Minerve, G2 Park Hill S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks, was settled off a sedate pace in sixth until turning for home....