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Giavellotto springs Cup surprise

Giavellotto produced a career-best performance under Andrea Atzeni to cause an upset in the Group 2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes.

Marco Botti's charge was steadily progressive as a three-year-old last season and ran a fine race when fourth (promoted to third) behind the reopposing Eldar Eldarov in the St Leger on his penultimate start of 2022.

A low-key comeback run when down the field behind Broome - another horse taking him on again at York - saw Giavellotto sent off as one of the outsiders (14/1) on the Knavesmire but the son of Mastercraftsman toughed it out to win by half a length from old foe Eldar Eldarov, who was making his reappearance and closing him down inside the final furlong.

The stewards inquired into the interference caused by the winner on long-time leader Quickthorn - which had a knock-on effect on third past the post Broome - but soon announced that the placings remained unaltered.

Betfair introduced Giavellotto into the Melbourne Cup market at 33/1.

Botti said: “He came across a little bit in the last furlong, he didn’t interfere with the runner-up but Andrea said he was just idling a little bit once he hit the front. Last year he ran a huge race in the St Leger, he didn’t have much luck in Dubai with the wide draw, but we’ve always thought he was a very good stayer.

“He’s still very lightly raced. It was a good field with the St Leger winner and Broome in there, but I thought we would be here with a chance. I put a line through the race in Dubai, he was drawn in stall 15 and it just didn’t go to plan but we were confident he would run a good race."

He added: “It’s very important, it’s been a couple of quiet years so to have a horse of this calibre is great. It’s great for the staff at home and for the owner, who bred the horse.”

Roger Varian, meanwhile, was as happy with Eldar Eldarov as Botti was with the winner.

“He’s run like he’s the best horse in the race. He’s given the winner 5lb and he’s given Broome 2lb, it was a really good run,” he said. “It was a very good run with a view to the Gold Cup. That was over a mile and six furlongs and we’ve always felt that he would get the Gold Cup distance. We put a line through his run at Ascot in October, which was his first try beyond this trip, but it was heavy ground that day, which he won’t run on again.

“Every time he’s run over this trip he has looked like he is only getting going at the line and that is why we think the Gold Cup will suit him, so we’ll look forward to that. He’s very versatile regarding ground. He goes on anything really, he won’t run on heavy ground again, (but) apart from that he’s pretty versatile.

“It was a good trial for the Gold Cup. It was a shame he didn’t win, but I don’t think he lost anything in defeat. At the weights he’s run like the winner really."

Of Quickthorn, Hughie Morrison said: “The interference definitely cost us third, but it’s a funny rule we have. It leaves a bit of a sour taste because it costs you £30,000. He’s run well, though. The jockey (Oisin Murphy) said he jumped good, he felt well and he’s a damn good horse.

“I just think maybe two miles around here suits him better because then there is two bends. He’s run up to his best, probably, other than the freak race he won over two miles here last year (Lonsdale Cup).

“He won’t go to Ascot, the way we ride him we feel he doesn’t get two and a half miles so we’ll discuss where we go. A mile and six is his minimum. He could go for the race he won last year (Group Two Prix Maurice de Nieuil). He could even go jumping! Someone has to take on Constitution Hill!”

Mostabshir shows star quality in blitzing rivals

Mostabshir looks a colt sure to go on bigger and better things following a dominant display. An impressive victory on his debut at Kempton in November earned the Shadwell-owned youngster a place in last month’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket with a view to a potential 2000 Guineas bid, but he could finish only fifth of seven runners.

Perhaps as a result, Mostabshir was passed over on this occasion by Shadwell’s retained rider Jim Crowley, who instead elected to partner Wood Ditton runner-up Kathab.

The latter was the 6/4 favourite on the strength of that fine effort behind Thursday’s luckless Dante Stakes third Passenger, but he was ultimately unable to lay a glove on John and Thady Gosden’s highly impressive winner.

With William Buick in the saddle, the son of Dark Angel set his own fractions in front and once asked to go about his business quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. His stablemate Ziryab finished best of the rest, pipping Kathab to the runner-up spot, but was a full five lengths behind Mostabshir.

Gosden senior said: "He’s like a lot of ours – the grass gallops were closed in Newmarket, so they had to train on the all-weather and then when they went to the races they ran in a bog and he didn’t like it. This was the first summer ground we’ve had this year and it’s a different result.

“William gave him a great ride from the front and said he gave him a lovely feel. What was nice was that William said he quickened twice, and when they do that you’ve got to take note."

Sky Bet cut Mostabshir to 16/1 from 50/1 for the St James’s Palace Stakes a Royal Ascot, a Group One contest Gosden has previously won with Kingman (2014), Without Parole (2018) and Palace Pier (2020).

The Clarehaven handler was non-committal regarding future plans, though, adding: “He was giving 6lb to the opposition so it was a decent performance, but we’re in a complete muddle now as we don’t know if we’ll go to the Britannia or the handicapper will make it impossible – the other option is to go in at the deep end.

“What he’s shown today is that on genuine summer ground he’s a decent horse."

Shadwell’s racing manager, Angus Gold, walked into the paddock with a rather puzzled look on his face.

He said: “I’m delighted to see him quicken like that, I didn’t expect it. He looked a galloper when he won at Kempton and it didn’t work out for him in the Craven for whatever reason – course, ground, needed the run, whatever.

“William said he quickened twice and under a penalty that was a handy enough performance today. Timing-wise you’d love to run him in a Listed race somewhere and if that went well then go St James’s Palace, but there isn’t the time to do it. We’ll have to see how he is and see what John thinks.

“We ran in the Craven to see if he was a Guineas horse, it fell in a hole so we thought we’d come back down to bring him back up but to do that with a penalty in that style – that’s why I was a bit puzzled, I was surprised to see the speed. As for Kathab, Jim says he probably needs 10 furlongs, if anything."

Sounds Of Heaven denies Queen For You

Irish raider Sounds Of Heaven caused a minor upset in a thrilling renewal of the Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes.

A quality field of eight fillies went to post for a Listed contest better known as the Michael Seely Memorial, three of which brought unbeaten records to the table.

Silver Lady was the 2/1 favourite, having made a deep impression on her Newmarket debut, with Ascot winner Queen For You and Newbury scorer Fakhama also lining up following successful introductions.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Sounds Of Heaven had finished fourth on her first start at Gowran Park before opening her account at Leopardstown in October, and on her first outing in seven months she was never too far off the pace in the hands of Ronan Whelan.

After taking a lead from Stormy Sea for much of the one-mile journey, Sounds Of Heaven (14/1) took over with a furlong to run and stuck to her guns once challenged by both Queen For You and Silver Lady, seeing them off by a short head and a neck respectively in the hands of Ronan Whelan.

Harrington was not on the Knavesmire, but said: “That was brilliant. I fancied her going over there, we just hadn’t been able to get a run into her because of the ground. We knew she wanted nice ground so we’ve waited with her and it’s paid off.

“The race wasn’t really run to suit because they didn’t go very quick, but she was lovely and relaxed. I just said to Ronan to keep it simple and he did.

“Her form had worked out well from last year, she made her debut on soft ground but won next time on better ground and the second (Boogie Woogie) ran well in a Group One in France.

“She’s in the Irish Guineas as well as the Coronation Stakes, so we’ll just wait and see what we do. She’s a gorgeous filly with a lovely temperament.”

Should Sounds Of Heaven head to Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes, she could well renew rivalry with John and Thady Gosden’s runner-up.

“It was a big run, just the second of her life, I’m thrilled with her,” said Gosden senior.

“She got the one beaten beside her, but she didn’t see the other one. There’s no reason we wouldn’t go to Ascot at this stage. She’s a big girl, she’s grown a lot and developed a lot. She travelled beautifully, better than anything, she just didn’t win."

Burke Marygate pair book Royal Ascot trip

Karl Burke will target Royal Ascot with both Got To Love A Grey and Dorothy Lawrence after the stablemates finished first and second in the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes.

The Middleham Park Racing-owned Got To Love A Grey was a visually impressive six-length winner when a warm order for her racecourse debut at Nottingham last month and was sent off at 5-2 to follow up in Listed company on the Knavesmire under Sam James.

Dorothy Lawrence, second to reopposing 13-8 favourite Persian Dreamer at Newmarket last month, was a much bigger price at 9-1 but raised her game to run an excellent race in defeat.

Got To Love A Grey raced on the speed from the start over the straight five furlongs and while Dorothy Lawrence moved into her slipstream looking a huge threat, the leader kept finding for pressure and was half a length to the good passing the post.

Gaiden came from further back to finish third, with Persian Dreamer only fourth.

Burke said: “It’s been a frustrating week, we’ve had about five seconds and picked up nearly £100,000 I think in two days, all without having a winner. To get the winner was needed. I thought the second filly would be the winner, she’s very quick and she travelled very strong there and didn’t quite see it out as well as the winner. Take nothing away from the winner though, she’s so honest and such a lovely filly. Sam said she was first in the stalls and they were all messing about for ages. She just jumped out and away she goes.”

When asked about plans, the trainer added: “The Queen Mary or the Albany (for the winner), she’s shown us on a fast track that she’s quick enough and you need to stay well at Ascot so it probably makes sense to go for the Queen Mary. I’d be quite happy to send her (Dorothy Lawrence) there as well, Ryan (Moore) thought we should give her a chance so we’ll see. I think that’s our eighth or ninth two-year-old winner so we’ve got off to a great start and there’s some lovely Dubawis and Frankels and Galileos to come later on, there’s a nice team.”

The winning rider said: “I’m just pleased to be on her. I won on her at Nottingham, but the connections didn’t have to leave me on her. I thought the ground might be on the quick side as she seemed to like the soft at Nottingham, but she’s very versatile. I think she’ll get six furlongs. The speed I was able to travel at up in class, I wouldn’t be averse to going up in trip, but Karl knows more than I do. She wasn’t stopping at the line.”

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