Archivist is away and clear in the Strensall

Archivist won the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York | report, reaction and free video replay.

Horse Racing

Sat August 22, 2026 · 12h ago

Archivist (9/1) backed up his valuable win in a Goodwood handicap with a wide margin victory in the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York.

Archivist had shown plenty of promise before joining Wathnan Racing and Hamad Al Jehani and is now delivering in spades.

The winner of the Golden Mile at the Qatar Goodwood Festival at 16/1 under Callum Rodriguez, the pair teamed up again on the Knavesmire and destroyed a strong looking field in the nine furlong contest.

Point Lynas set the pace, tracked by leading fancies Hankelow and Geryon and it looked a question of how far when Geryon hit the front hard on the bit. He was soon challenged on his inside, and towards the far side of the track, by Ridari but as the race entered the final quarter of a mile their petrol gauges quickly emptied.

Archivist swept past them, racing more towards the stands' side of the track which has been less used this week, with Sabre Strike and Persica in hot pursuit - all three having received patient rides.

Archivist was not for catching though and extended his advantage to the line, beating Sabre Strike by a scarcely credible seven and a half lengths with Persica almost two lengths back in third.

Unlimited Replays

of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays

Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits Sporting Life Plus - Join For Free

Rodriguez spoke to Racing TV afterwards, saying: "He felt like a much improved horse again from the horse I sat on at Goodwood. I was just saying to the guys, he really surprised me because he's always been quite a forward horse and he was just so relaxed today.

"He switched off lovely from the gates. We knew there would be a nice gallop to aim at and he relaxed so well and I ended up committing him a lot sooner than ideal just because the feel he was giving me on the way round. The response was immediate and he's galloped strong through the line. A very big performance.

"We actually said after Goodwood, these slick tracks, a fast pace, they are his thing and I'm just delighted with the horse, he's improved massively from his Goodwood performance and I couldn't pull him up."

Richard Brown, representing the winning owner, added: "Slightly taken us all by surprise. We thought he had a big chance and James [Doyle] had a difficult choice, we thought he was going to progress but that has taken us all by surprise.

"I think we can probably be quite brave now. I think we can have a crack at a big step up in class.

"I think a bend is very important. I know it's a long straight here but it's important to get him to go to sleep and he did that and he's travelled into it so strongly; Callum said 'I went way too soon' but what can he do? He was just travelling."

Archivist won the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York | report, reaction and free video replay.

More from Sporting Life

Safer gambling