The late scratching of St Mark’s Basilica from the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday does at least make for an open renewal of the Ebor meeting’s showpiece Group One, with Mishriff and Love vying for favouritism having filled the frame behind Adayar in the King George last month.
It is possible to pick holes in their form, however, as Mishriff is winless in Europe this summer, while Love’s success in a slowly-run Prince of Wales’s Stakes has not been advertised by the placed horses. Alcohol Free, the Sussex Stakes winner, will be a big runner if she gets the trip, but her sire was a sprinter and her three half-siblings have mainly been campaigned at sprint trips too.
That leaves Mohaafeth as an intriguing contender at around 6-1. A recent defeat by Bangkok over track and trip seemed to burst his bubble, but he was given plenty to do by Jim Crowley and then tried to do it all in the space of a furlong. His rider is unlikely to make the same mistake again and William Haggas’s colt can make it three-out-of-three for the Classic generation in all-aged middle-distance Group Ones this summer.
York 1.50 The progressive three-year-olds Whenthedealinsdone and Twilight Falls will attract plenty of support but both have double-figure draws on a track where low numbers usually have the edge, so with bookies offering six or even seven places each-way, Snazzy Jazzy, in four, catches the eye at around 25-1. Lawrence Mullaney’s six-year-old ran well over track and trip last month, backed that up at Ascot last time and has been dropped 2lb since. It is also interesting that Oisin Murphy is taking the reins for the first time, on only his third ride for the stable since 2016.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Wednesday’s racing tips
Show
Carlisle
1.00 Khabib
1.30 Mambo Beauty
2.05 Azure Blue
2.40 Cassy O
3.15 Goobinator
3.50 Symbol Of Hope
4.20 Carter Cowboy
Bath
1.40 Cherish
2.15 Kaboo
2.50 French Conquest
3.25 Manor Park
4.00 Artemis Sky
4.35 Kenstone
5.10 Sarah’s Verse
York
1.50 Snazzy Jazzy
2.25 Imperial Fighter (nb)
3.00 High Definition
3.35 Mohaafeth (nap)
4.10 Platform Nineteen
4.45 Ey Up It’s Maggie
5.20 Instinctive Move
Worcester
4.25 Dreamsundermyfeet
5.00 Beyond The Clouds
5.30 Bathiva
6.00 Exelerator Express
6.30 Mr Tambourine Man
7.00 Jewari Of Saints
7.30 Fivetotwelve
8.00 Spanish Jump
Kempton Park
6.15 Vitalline
6.45 Tamra’s Rock
7.15 Flamingo Rose
7.45 Colonel Faulkner
8.15 Heavenly Rose
8.45 Dolphin
York 2.25 The Acomb Stakes is short on numbers but all five runners were clear-cut winners last time out and go to post with a realistic chance. The narrow favourite is Dubawi Legend, who surged five lengths clear to make a winning debut at Doncaster last month, but his time was not exceptional and the race has not produced a subsequent winner from 11 attempts. As a result, Andrew Balding’s Imperial Fighter looks overpriced at around 7-1. He made a very smooth debut at Glorious Goodwood and first-time juvenile winners from the yard tend to be a cut above: three out of six this year, including Berkshire Shadow and Sandrine, have gone on to win at Listed or Group level. Imperial Fighter could well be the fourth.
York 3.00 High Definition has fallen a long way short of expectations in two starts this year but had a rushed prep for the Dante in May and clipped heels at an early stage of the Irish Derby last time. His two-length third to Hurricane Lane, a dual Group One winner since, in the Dante is the best form on offer and this could be the day when he gets his season back on track.