York Racecourse

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....

Michael Dods trainee Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir--Sea Of Dreams {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), successful in four of her five latest starts, stepped up from listed level to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York. She had previously closed her sophomore campaign last term with a stakes breakthrough in October's Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. at Newmarket and doubled up in the May 6 Kilvington Fillies' S. back at HQ coming back off a 210-day break last time. Azure Blue bided her...

Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make her 3-year-old bow in the G3 Musidora S. at York in May, according to trainer Richard Fahey, who also set early season targets for several stable stars. Last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland when she was fourth to Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), the bay filly was a debut winner at Doncaster in July and followed that with a victory in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket in October. Fahey will have her skip...

The 18 finalists for the 2023 UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin were announced on Friday. Three finalists remain in contention for each of the prizes which recognise and reward the outstanding skill, commitment and contribution of over 10,000 stud and stable staff in England, Scotland, and Wales. All of the finalists will receive a £250 prize for reaching this stage of the judging process. Judging day for the 18 will be held on Monday, Feb. 20, with the winners announced during a ceremony at York Racecourse later...

Alex Eade has been named the successor to Charles Barnett as the next Secretary General of the Large Independent Racecourses. Barnett is due to retire after six years in the post. Eade begins his new role in the new year and has previously been General Manager at Goodwood Racecourse for five years (2015-2019). He also spent six years at Betfair, latterly as Director of Sporting Affairs. Eade is currently Group Commercial Director at Lloyd Webber Theatres, Ltd. Bridget Guerin, Chairman of York Racecourse, said, "Firstly, I would like to thank...

Marc Chan's 5-year-old gelding Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) was a neck shy of Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) in last month's G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood and exacted revenge on that rival with a first win since annexing last year's renewal of that contest in Saturday's £400,000 G2 Sky Bet City of York S. on the Knavesmire. Positioned fourth through halfway, the 5-1 chance made smooth headway into contention in the straight and quickened smartly underneath the stands' side rail inside the final furlong to prevail by...

Godolphin's 525,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Eartha Kitt {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status when debuting with elan over five furlongs at Ascot in May, but skipped Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. before confirming his wellbeing when upped to six for his July 29 return at Newmarket last time. Sent postward as the 3-1 third choice for a stellar renewal of Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York, he produced a display of raw power and claimed a career...

Shorn of its main protagonists Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the build-up, the complexion of Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup may have changed since declaration time, but nonetheless played host to a performance of note as Lady Blyth's 5-year-old gelding Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Daffydowndilly {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) stepped into the void, leading his rivals a merry dance throughout, and registered a pillar-to-post victory in the Knavesmire's extended two-mile test. The March-foaled bay, who lined up off victories in the G3...

Five-furlong sprints used to be the dominion of the powerhouse colts and geldings, but recent years have seen a shift in the dynamic and that could hardly be better expressed than the line-up for Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York. Four of the top five in the betting are fillies or mares and that doesn't even include last year's impressive winner Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who trades around the 20-1 mark which would have been inconceivable following her career-best here 12 months ago. Unusually, position...