City Of York Stakes (Group 1)

Fourteen go to post for the £600,000 City Of York Stakes over 7f, the second running since upped to Group 1 status.

Zavateri winning the National Stakes at the Curragh

Godolphin have been conspicuous by their absence this week at York; today they unleash 5yo Notable Speech under William Buick. He’s won five Group 1s over a mile. This is his first try over 7f.

Willie Haggas’s 5yo Lake Forest, under Cieren Fallon, second in this last year, takes him on. He won the G2 Gimcrack Stakes here as a two-year-old. This year he was an eye-catcher in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over 6f and went on to win the G2 Lennox Stakes over 7f at Goodwood. The following day he was asked to contest the G1 Sussex Stakes, where he finished sixth, 6L behind Bow Echo.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri, the mount of Charlie Bishop, was a very good two-year-old. He won the G1 National Stakes at the Curragh, beating Gstaad by a head. He was held up in the spring, missing the 2000 Guineas, and did very well to finish fifth in the G1 Sussex Stakes when denied a clear run.

Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony with Kiernan Shoemark sprung a surprise when winning the G1 Queen Anne over 1m at Royal Ascot. He then finished fourth in the Sussex Stakes 1½L in front of Zavateri.

Noriyuki Hori has kept Santone Reve in England for his third start here. He was beaten a nose in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished third in the G1 July Cup, both over 6f. Joao Moreira takes the mount.

Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy have had a great week at York; Flora Of Bermuda comes here on the back of two G3 successes, in the Summer Stakes over 6f and in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood. Andrew also runs Marvelman under PJ McDonald, who finished sixth in the Lennox Stakes.

James Owen sends Rouge Diplomat with Harry Davies in the plate, a winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot; he was a neck second to Lake Forest at Goodwood.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore have Puerto Rico. He was very good last year, winning the G2 Champagne Stakes, the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the G1 Criterium International, the last two on soft ground. Fifth on comeback this year in the G1 Poule d’Essai Des Poulains, beaten 1½L, he finished last in the St James’s Palace Stakes and second last in the Sussex Stakes.

Ed Bethell has Paborus under James Doyle; he’s lightly raced with a five-from-eight strike rate, taking the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle last time out, beating Marvelman 1½L, his only start this year.

Robson De Aguiar sends Power Blue in the Amo colours under David Egan. He’s a Group 1 winner, having taken the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last year, beating True Love over 6f. Last time out, he beat Big Gossey in the G2 Minstrel Stakes over 7f.

Declan Carroll’s Lifeplan under Zak Wheatley, Karl Burke’s Native Warrior, the mount of Clifford Lee and Richard & Peter Fahey’s Powerful Glory, with Jamie Spenser in the plate, are all outsiders. The latter took the G1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last year, returning an unconsidered 200/1. He’s only had one run this year in May, in the G2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, finishing 4¾L behind Comanche Brave, the subsequent July Cup winner.

Conclusion

This is open. A case can be made for plenty.

Notable Speech, Zavateri, Power Blue, Puerto Rico, Powerful Glory, Ten Bob Tony and Santono Reve are all Group 1 winners. The trip is the key here.

Notable Speech may find this too sharp. Santono Reve’s stamina may be stretched, Puerto Rico can rediscover his two year old form, Power Blue and Powerful Glory are in with a chance, as is Lake Forrest and Ten Bob Tony, however, it’s Zavateri that appeals most. He beat Gstaad over 7f last year, and having had an interupted campaigh this he year, he was an eyecatcher last time out in the Sussex Stakes and can come on for that.

Recommendation

Zavateri 8/1 ew