Punctilious handed foreign assignments
Punctilious looks set to end her racing career with trips to France and America after gaining Group One glory in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York.
Kerrin McEvoy brought the 13-2 chance through to lead inside the final furlong, with the pair running on strongly to beat Dash To The Top by half a length and continue the return to form of the Godolphin operation.
French raider Lune d’Or was two lengths back in third.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin racing manager, said: “The filly was thoroughly honest there and really deserved that.
“She won a Group Two race at Royal Ascot last year and was second in the Irish Oaks, and the whole reason for keeping her in training was to win a Group One.
“We really fancied her in the Lancashire Oaks earlier in the season but something went wrong there and she had a sub-standard run at Sandown, so maybe she has just taken a long time to come to herself.
“As long as she is happy and well we will keep going with her. I would imagine we would look at a race like the Prix Vermeille and then we may try the Filly & Mare Turf at the Breeders’ Cup.”
The shape of the race changed several times down the home straight as front-running Iota came back to the field.
Vodafone Oaks winner Eswarah made up eyecatching ground down the outside but threw her chance away when hanging violently left towards the far rail.
Then it was Dash To The Top who took up the lead two furlongs out, next to the stands rail.
But close home she was reeled in by Godolphin’s charge, who easily improved on her fourth place in last year’s renewal of the race.
Faring best of the three-year-olds, Dash To The Top also pleased Luca Cumani.
“I am delighted with that,” said the trainer.
“They were so far apart I didn’t know who was ahead. I was hoping we were, but with 50 yards to go I realised we were going to finish a good second.
“It was a very good performance, we always thought she was Group One filly and today she has confirmed it. Now she has to win a Group One.”
Local trainers enjoyed a profitable afternoon on Ebor day with four winners, highlighted by the success of Amadeus Wolf in the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.
Amadeus Wolf is in the care of Kevin Ryan, who is based just up the A19 near Thirsk, and the colt and his jockey Neil Callan were treated to a rousing reception on their return to the winner’s circle.
“It’s a great thrill to win, particularly at York,” said Ryan, who was also on the mark on Tuesday with Palace Episode.
“We’ve always thought he was a very good horse and he’s rubber stamped it today.
“This is my first Group winner in the UK – I’ve had two in Ireland. Eastern Promise set the ball rolling, but it’s been a long wait since – this makes it all worthwhile.”
As for plans for his Group Two winner, Ryan added: “I wouldn’t be in a rush - he’s had a hard enough race today. We’ll give him an easy two or three weeks and then we’ll see where we go with him, but he’s a very exciting horse.”
Callan had watched Palace Episode’s race on television and he said: “I was a little bit gutted yesterday because I had a three-day ban. I got a four-day ban for not weighing-in and I got one day back which was today, which was an important day.
“Kevin said last night ‘put the ban to the back of your mind and concentrate on today. Today will be a good day for you’. So he was pretty confident.
“But what a buzz it’s given me.”
David Nicholls, who is based not far from Ryan at Sessay, got on the scoresheet himself with Johannes, ridden by his son Adrian, in the newitts.com Convivial Maiden Stakes.
The 9-1 shot had finished second to Palace Episode on his debut at Catterick last month and Nicholls said: “The owners wanted to run him here and I was a bit apprehensive, but the form got a big boost yesterday.
“I suppose in a way he’s galloped them into the ground. His life is in front of him now.”
Richard Whitaker bypassed the Gimcrack in favour of the Costcutter Roses Stakes with Tabaret and the move paid off as the 7-1 chance rallied strongly for Dean McKeown to pip Godfrey Street by a short head.
The Scarcroft, near Wetherby handler, said: “We had the option to go for the Gimcrack or this.
“We took him to Ripon the other day and gave him a racecourse gallop and Dean said keep him to five furlongs – he’s so fast on this ground.
“It will be the Flying Childers next.”
Realism had the locals cheering as early as the opening race after running out the convincing winner of the Motability Supported By Royal & SunAlliance Handicap.
The five-year-old is trained nearby at Malton by Richard Fahey and had run well on his last visit to the Knavesmire when he was third in the John Smith’s Cup.
“I’m delighted. He deserved that,” said Fahey.
“He was second in a Derby Day handicap and third in a John Smith’s Cup and it looked like he wasn’t going to win this year.
“I’ve put him in the Cambridgeshire and a big handicap at Newbury on September 17. He’ll probably go to Newbury and then for the other one.”
Folga, second in four of her last five starts, gained just reward for her consistency with a sort-head success for Lincolnshire-based trainer James Given in the Eventmasters Falmouth Handicap.
