City of York Stakes preview: One can Master York

The City of York Stakes is rising with prestige – and prize money – each year, still only a listed contest in 2015, but this year’s renewal will be the first running since being upgraded to Group 2 status following the decision of the European Pattern Committee earlier this year. Indeed, it was won by subsequent Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye 12 months ago, and has again attracted a good-looking set of entrants at the five-day stage.

The one that leaps off the page is six-time Group 1 winner Laurens, who got off the mark for the season as well as returning to her best in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville (by half a length from With You) last time. It was a typical display from her, too, making most of the running leading the main group and quickly putting a couple of lengths between her and her rivals when asked to lengthen over a furlong from home, putting in a much more dominant display than the winning margin suggests. She has disappointed when pitched in against the boys on both occasions this season, but that was at the highest level – in the Lockinge and Queen Anne – and, though she has a Group 1 penalty to carry, she is sure to be popular despite not having run over seven furlongs since making a winning debut at Doncaster in July 2017.

You can't help but love LAURENS ❤️
That's Group 1 number six as she shows her trademark heart and determination to win the Prix Rothschild in Deauville 🇨🇵
pic.twitter.com/H8QbVLh9Dt

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) July 28, 2019

Another smart mare who is in the mix is the William Haggas-trained One Master. A winner of the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in 2018, she has proved at least as good in four starts this season, her two best efforts coming when finishing placed in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. She was arguably unlucky not to win on the latter occasion, the winner well positioned and One Master having to make up ground from off a slack pace on a day when track records were tumbling. Admittedly, she wasn’t at her best when back down in trip for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time, but she was again left poorly positioned as the race went. It is best to not judge her too harshly on that performance, and she looks a strong contender on these terms back at seven furlongs for a trainer who loves to target this meeting.

Cape Byron is one who has showed much improved form this season, winning two competitive handicaps – the Victoria Cup and Wokingham, both at Ascot – earlier this year, form which has proven really strong. It was no surprise to see connections roll the dice in the July Cup given the authority with which he won the Wokingham, running to a level that would have seen him place in the Diamond Jubilee and, though he ultimately disappointed on his first start in Group 1 company, the race came quick enough (three weeks) after his big effort at Royal Ascot. The return to seven furlongs here won’t be an issue, and he isn’t one to rule out; it is worth remembering he was sent off the 6/1 third favourite in the July Cup.

Not for catching - Cape Byron is impressive in winning the Wokingham at @Ascot, bringing up a double on the day for @Atzenijockey... pic.twitter.com/rlQnUkDD3L

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2019

Three-year-olds have won the last four renewals of this race and Happy Power will be hoping to extend that record. He made a solid start to the campaign when winning a handicap at Newbury over this trip in April, and didn’t have to improve to win a listed event at this course in June, landing some nice bets in the process. Happy Power seemed to have been found out up in grade when only seventh in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot after, but proved that theory all wrong when producing a career best to be fourth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time, beaten less than two lengths by Too Darn Hot. A repeat performance will see him bang in the mix, but he also holds an entry in the Celebration Mile.

Beat le Bon is likely to head back to Goodwood for the Celebration Mile given he looked better than ever when winning a handicap over the same C&D last time, which means the classic generation is unlikely to be as well represented as has usually been the case in recent years. Happy Power’s stablemate Shine So Bright – who is also owned by King Power Racing – will be interesting if taking his chance, though. He looked promising when winning the Free Handicap at Newmarket on his return in April, and ran well to be sixth in the 2000 Guineas when last seen in May, leaving the impression he was stretched by the one-mile trip. Balding reported that the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot would be his next port of call after, so he has clearly met with a setback since, which is a slight concern, but there’s no doubting he has the potential to win at this level.

Space Traveller was a surprise winner of the Jersey Stakes, having lost his form after finishing runner-up to Shine So Bright in the Free Handicap on his reappearance. The return to firmer ground and strong pace were the catalysts for his much-improved display, but he wasn’t able to build on it in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time, caught too far back and getting going too late. This course should suit better and he isn’t ruled out on the pick of his form.

Space Traveller gets the better of Space Blues to win the Jersey Stakes

Another winner for Danny Tudhope 👏#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/xA1402Snbq

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 22, 2019

Sir Dancealot bounced back to his best to win the Lennox Stakes in July for the second year running, and is best not judged too harshly on his latest effort in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (also won that race in 2018) back on soft ground. This will be a quick enough turn around, but he has won at this course in the past, and likely faster ground will also suit.

The seven-year-old Limato isn’t the force of old anymore but showed when winning the Criterion Stakes over this trip at Newmarket that he is still capable of smart form, and he is a danger to all at this level. He had his limitations exposed back in Group 1 company in the July Cup last time – at a track he goes particularly well at – but he seems better at seven furlongs nowadays, and his record at this track isn’t a bad one, either. Limato also holds an entry in the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday, and shouldn’t be underestimated wherever he turns up.

Le Brivido and Eqtidaar are a couple others worth mentioning, for all that they both have a bit to prove at present. The former shaped with plenty of promise in the Lockinge earlier in the season, and ran with credit in the Queen Anne on his next start. He wasn’t disgraced dropped to six furlongs in the Diamond Jubilee four days later, but he did disappoint with his finishing effort in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time. Eqtidaar looked a sprinter going places when winning the Commonwealth Cup last season, but has been disappointing since, including on his reappearance over this trip at Leicester in April. He possibly needed the run on that occasion, but it is disconcerting that we haven’t seen him since.

This looks an open and good renewal and it is One Master who is taken to come out on top. She hasn’t been disgraced in Group 1 company on her last three starts, finishing around two and a half lengths in front of Laurens off level weights in the Queen Anne, and this trip will arguably suit One Master better. The long straight here will be in her favour, too, giving her plenty of time to hit top gear, and there is plenty to like about her chances on the book.

Recommendation:

Back One Master at 9/2 in the City of York Stakes on Saturday