They race at York in the Sunday Series this weekend
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Horses to note at York
By David Ord
10:36 · WED May 18, 2022
It’s a big week for the Sky Bet Sunday Series as it heads to York for the first time and David Ord takes a look at some horses of note among the entries.
For the first four home from the opening meeting at Hamilton, EILEAN DUBH, Mostawaa, Harswell Duke and A Boy Named Ivy are set for a rematch. I say set because all need a few horses to come out to make the final field of 20.
This is deep – you don’t get shallow York handicaps - but the winner from Scotland is clearly a player despite a five-pounds rise. He’s a work in progress for the Karl Burke team and that was only his third turf start for them.
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Runner-up Mostawaa is up two himself and has a length-and-a-quarter to find so there shouldn’t be much between them. The draw clearly plays a big role too.
She’s been a money-spinner for the Keith Dalgleish team after forming part of the Shadwell dispersal last summer, one of the first of their horses to leave Marcus Tregoning for whom she won on her final start for the yard at Sandown.
A beautifully bred daughter of Sea The Stars, she’ll relish going back up to two miles here and while on a career-high mark she’s very tough and sure to run her race.
But guess what? Yes, this is deep. We have Reverend Hubert, Super Superjack and Evaluation heading here on hat-tricks. The Goobinator is set to return to the level for the first time since finishing fourth in the Cesarewitch, and a progressive son of Frankel, Spirit Mixer, is also in the mix, pardon the pun, for Andrew Balding.
BIG-MONEY BUYS
The two-year-old races are always informative at the Sunday Series and the Sky Bet Sunday Series EBF Novice Stakes has attracted a couple of fascinating entries.
We know Spartan Arrow can shift even though he hasn’t seen a racecourse before, because connections opted to part with 380,000 guineas to snare him at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale.
A 50,000 euro yearling, he’s a Sioux Nation half-brother to some fast horses and clearly has some zip himself. It’s the only entry Simon & Ed Crisford have made for him this week.
But David Loughnane is building a fine reputation as a trainer of two-year-olds and his Walbank has the benefit of a run already.
He finished second at Ascot earlier in the month, chasing home a very exciting prospect in Noble Style who looks sure to form part of Godolphin’s Royal Ascot team.
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He has the advantage of experience over Spartan Arrow and also cost more than he did at the same Newmarket sale, going for 525,000 guineas. Silvestre De Sousa is already booked and you’d imagine connections see this a stepping stone towards his own Ascot bid.
HAGGAS TO BOOKEND THE CARD?
There’s nothing in-form Yorkshireman William Haggas likes more than a winner at York. At the time of writing he’s ticking over with a 44% wins-to-runs ratio with 14 from 32 over the last 14 days.
Not bad, not bad at all, and he has three entries on the Sunday card.
Substantial would be a warm order for the mile handicap at 5.05 but seemingly has little chance of getting in. However, the master of Somerville Lodge has realistic chances of a first-and-last-race double.
Firstly, he is also in at Haydock on Friday so connections may opt to go there, albeit for a lower first prize, and secondly he was very keen on his reappearance when disappointing at Chester under Tom Marquand.
He was well backed before dropping away and finishing well beaten at Chester, and clearly more was expected. In winning his final two starts at three he looked a progressive young handicapper so it’s too early to write him off.
She’s only had two runs having never seen a racecourse at two, winning on debut at Newbury, where she beat two subsequent winners in Lady Eros and Whitebeam, before being touched off in what could turn out to be a deep novice stakes at Newcastle last week.
The daughter of Kodiac finished third there, beaten a short-head and half-a-length by Monaadah and Willem Twee.
There was still plenty to like about the run, Marquand’s partner closing up well having been slowly away and conceding first run to the principals. She’s short on experience going into her first handicap but has considerably more potential than most of her rivals – and the tempo of this bigger field contest should suit.
A line on Monaadah’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor, too. He runs Haggas close on the hot list at the moment with seven winners from 18 runners over the same period – and as of Tuesday lunchtime five of his last six runners had won.
He made three entries for Sunday but sadly won’t be represented with Dubai Welcome, Open Mind and Dubai Mirage all above the ceiling rating for their respective races and therefore seemingly having zero chance of making the final field.
Looks like an afternoon in front of the TV with Oli Bell and friends for the great man instead.
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