2019 Flat Issue 17 - Tony takes York Grand Slam Prize

Headlines

Enable Lands Yorkshire Oaks

Stradivarius lands another Million

Battash stars in Nunthorpe

Report

We start at York on Thursday where in the 1,m 4f group 1 Yorkshire Oaks Enable ( Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Steve, Tony), took her chance, Made all, driven when challenged 2f out, ran on strongly, winning by 2 ¾ l. She gets 26.1 points.

On Friday in the 2m group 2 Lonsdale Cup, Stradivarius ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve, Tony), went to post, Held up tracking leading pair, going well when switched right over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon quickened clear, pushed out, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 21.2 points.

In the 5f group 1 Nunthorpe stakes Battash ( Neil, Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders far side of group and always going well, led on bit approaching final 2f, ridden clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, most impressive (new track record), winning by 3 ¾ l. He gets 55 points.

Grand Slam Leg 2 Points

Tony    188.1

Neil       102.3

Cliff    90.5

Steve    47.3

Cod 26.1

Martin    26.1

Bob 21.2

Grand Slam Leg 1

Neil 

Leg 2

Tony

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 August                  Total

Neil        169.3                1142.1

Tony      188.6                834.1

Cliff          148.3               798.6

Steve         93.1                741.1

Martin    80.5                627.1

Bob            21.2                574.4

Peej           00                  365

Cod        54.5             384.6

News

The punter is sad to report the passing of Roaring Lion, who failed to recover from his bout of colic, and Champion hurdler Espoir D’Allen, who was put down after an accident on the gallops.

Roger Charlton is already plotting a path towards some of the major middle-distance prizes in 2020 for the exciting Headman.

The three-year-old son of Kingman has followed up his win in the highly competitive London Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury in May with back-to-back Group Two victories in France, and the Beckhampton trainer is now considering a tilt at the Group One QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Martyn Meade has confirmed Technician is on course for the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster, following his determined triumph in Newbury's Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien fully expects there to be big days ahead still this season with Ten Sovereigns.

The impressive July Cup winner was sent off favourite for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday, but had to settle for sixth place, on what was his first try at five furlongs.

O'Brien said: "He was in the stalls a long time and just fell asleep. They jumped and they ran and it just kind of caught him a little bit. He wasn't really prepared for that.

"He'll be fine though, and we think he'll leave that run behind him.

"It was all new. He was in (the stalls) first, he was asleep in there, and it was a very warm day. Ryan (Moore) felt he just got lethargic and it took him a little bit of time to wake up. You don't get that time down there on fast ground.

"He's in all the sprints and we'll see how he is. We know he's very comfortable at six and didn't think five would be a problem."

Skitter Scatter is set to make her return from a near four-month absence in the Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary later today

Japan continues to figure in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes picture as Aidan O'Brien considers running plans for the Leopardstown showpiece on September 14. O'Brien also has Magical in the Irish Champion mix, after her run behind Enable in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks

Charlie Appleby is excited about stepping Ghaiyyath up in trip on his first start in more than four months in the Longines Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany at the weekend.