Check out the top trainer's guide to his leading hopes for the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York.
It has already been a summer to savour for trainer James Owen after celebrating a breakthrough Royal Ascot winner, but it could get even better during this year’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York.
There was a time when the Newmarket handler would be content with a steady flow of winners on the Arabian racing circuit or settling for a treble at a point-to-point meeting.
But things have changed dramatically for Owen who, since 2023, has built one of the most powerful dual-purpose yards in Britain from Green Ridge Stables base, which has celebrated wins from Cheltenham to Kentucky Downs.
It will be the aforementioned Rogue Diplomat that will spearhead Owen’s team with the son of Calyx, who finished second in the Group Two HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, being lined up to make his Group One debut in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes.
And he will be joined on the Knavesmire by a useful supporting cast of runners, who are all likely to give those siding with them a run for their money.
Owen said: “We have not got a massive team going to York, but what we do have is some nice ones going there
“It is great to have runners at these big meetings. These are horses that are entitled to be there as well. I will be disappointed if they don’t run big races.
“It is a great outlook for our yard. It would be lovely to take even more up there, but we will keep on building to that level.”
One horse that will be swerving the meeting is Aspect Island, who will not be taking up his engagement in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.
However, the son of Showcasing could still make an appearance on the Knavesmire next month in the Listed Starman At Tally Ho Stud Garrowby Stakes.
Owen said: “We are just going to sit tight with Aspect Island. He will either go to France or go for the Garrowby Stakes before we build him back up to Group race company.
“The horse has been running well but, as a three year old, he is just finding it tough against his elders at the moment, however I still have every faith in him.
“I thought his run in the King George at Goodwood was good, but he just didn’t handle the track there. He will come good, I'm sure of that.”
