Mustajeer goes three places better than last year by landing Ebor for Ger Lyons
Mustajeer went three places better than last year by landing the £1 million Sky Bet Ebor Handicap for Irish duo Colin Keane and Ger Lyons at odds of 16-1.
The former Owen Burrows-trained runner, who was bought for just £50,000 by new connections in 2017, sat prominently behind the John Gosden-trained front-runner Ben Vrackie and was in front fully three furlongs from home.
He had to show guts and determination to last out the 1m6f trip but did so gamely, with Red Galileo getting closest under Cieren Fallon for Godolphin.
Keane said: “It was a very good performance. It was pretty smooth and I probably got there a bit sooner than I wanted to.
“His aim at the start of the year was to be here and it’s a brilliant training performance by Ger. I’m just grateful to be riding him.”
Mustajeer was given an initial quote of 16-1 for the Melbourne Cup by Paddy Power and Betfair after his three-quarter-length success.
Desert Skyline ran a huge race for David Elsworth to take third, while Raymond Tusk came fourth after suffering severe trouble in running up the straight under Jamie Spencer.
Shine So Bright denies Laurens by a nose in City of York Stakes
A brave effort from King Power’s Shine So Bright was enough to hold off the admirable Laurens in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Sky Bet City of York Stakes.
The Andrew Balding-trained winner, who was a 6-1 chance, was making his first start since finishing sixth in the 2,000 Guineas and, under a shrewd ride from James Doyle, he kept on strongly to win by a nose.
Betfair shortened Shine So Bright to 9-1 (from 20) for the Sprint Cup at Haydock and 14-1 (from 50-1) for the Qipco Champions Sprinst.
Anna Lisa Balding, wife of trainer Andrew Balding, said: “I dreamed he was going to stay on and he did, he’s run a hell of a race and James [Doyle] has given him a fantastic ride.”
The victory provided Doyle with a double having landed the Melrose Handicap on Hamish earlier in the day, he was replacing King Power’s retained rider Silvestre de Sousa who was injured at Chelmsford last night.
It adds to an unlucky Ebor festival for Laurens’ owner John Dance, who was denied by a neck with Rare Groove on Wedenesday. Dance said: “You’re always disappointed when you get beat but she has done nothing wrong in defeat. The winner had always shown a lot for us as a two-year-old and he has probably enjoyed coming here fresh.
“The Matron has always been the main target [for Laurens] and it still is. This race fitted into her training programme perfectly. After the Matron we need to have a discussion about whether to go for the Foret or Sun Chariot.”
Cape Byron, who won the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, finished third.
fonte : RacingPost
