The 2021 Ebor Festival of Racing kicks off on Wednesday at York Racecourse in Northern England. Racing enthusiasts in this country have been fortunate to have these top class race meetings in both the UK and the USA to enjoy as local racing remains in suspended animation.
Hopefully, the authorities will give the racing folk a reprieve sooner rather than later but in the meantime, we can continue to enjoy the pleasures of foreign racing from our homes.
The feature race on day one of the Ebor Meeting is the Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) over 10 furlongs and won in the past by some of the champions of the turf. It is undeniable that the 2021 field does not contain a Frankel or a Sea the Stars but the latest edition is shaping up to be a top-class contest with three of the best horses in training in the UK expected to face the starter.
French Derby and Eclipse winner, St Mark’s Basilica, is expected to square off against Coronation and Sussex Stakes victress, Alcohol Free, as well as Saudi Cup and Sheema Classic winner, Mishriff. These three stand head and shoulders above their rivals and the winner should come from one of them. St Mark’s Basilica is unbeaten in 2021 and a worthy favourite but it is questionable whether he will be able to maintain his superiority over Mishriff, who he defeated in the Eclipse.
On that occasion, Mishriif was making his return to the races after a layoff following his travails in the Middle East. Mishriff showed the benefit of that run when making Derby winner Adayar, pull out all the stops in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
The filly Alcohol Free has been outstanding in 2021 and while her past performances suggest that she is likely to be held by both big guns, she did upset the Guineas and St James’ Palace winner, Poetic Flare, when running away with the Sussex Stakes. There are others like the Frankel colts, Mohaafeth and Juan Elcano, and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney, who can make the race interesting but in another battle of the generations, I will go with the four-year-old Mishriff to come out on top on this occasion.
The other feature race on day one is the traditional St Leger trial, the Great Voltigeur (Group 2) over 12 furlongs. Four horses stand out in this race, Godolphin’s Queens Vase winner, Kemari, Gordon Stakes runner ups, Sir Lucan and Third Realm, and Aiden O’brien’s beaten Irish Derby favourite, High Definition. Of the four, Kemari has the least to prove and is taken to provide the Godolphin team with proof of a third high class staying colt in their stable.
Day two of the meeting is headlined by the Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) over 12 furlongs. English and Irish Oaks winner, Snowfall, will be bidding to complete the Oaks hattrick and provide O'Brien with his second successive win in this event, following the victory of Love in the 2020 edition. Love is also entered here but it is doubtful that O'Brien would pit his two top-class fillies against each other.
Those expected to throw down the gauntlet are Alpinista, second to Love in 2020 and the recent winner of Group 1 in Germany; Ribblesdale one-two, Loving Dream and Eshaada; as well as Hardwicke and Lillie Langtry winner, Wonderful Tonight. Should the heavens open up, Wonderful Tonight would be very tough to beat but in the absence of such conditions, it is highly likely that high class three-year-old filly, Snowfall, will be too good for her rivals.
The other feature race on the day is the Lowther Stakes (Group 2) for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs. Duchess of Cambridge and Albany Stakes victress, Sandrine, stands head and shoulders above her rivals and is difficult to oppose. Others who could make a race of it are the Irish filly, Hermana Estrella, and Princess Margaret winner, Zain Claudette. Both should run well but Sandrine should win easily.
Day three of the meeting features the fastest horses on turf in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) over 5 furlongs and the best stayers in the country in the Lonsdale Cup (Group 2) over 2 miles.
In the Nunthorpe, Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner, the US campaigner, Golden Pal (reputed by trainer Wesley Ward to be his best horse ever), French-trained Suesa, winner of the King George at Goodwood, as well as Dragon Symbol who has been second in the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup and King George and course specialist, Winter Power, who has won her last two starts at York over five furlongs and in blistering fashion. The pace up at the front could set the race up very nicely for Suesa who knifed through the King George field to win easily.
The only drawback could be if the going came up quick since the French filly has shown her best form with some ease underfoot. In that case, the American raider, Golden Pal may have too much toe for his rivals. Underfoot conditions might also influence the outcome of the Lonsdale Stakes with champion stayer, Stradivarius needed good or better conditions to show his best (or even race) while Goodwood Cup winner, Trueshan, would appreciate soft underfoot conditions. Gold Cup third, Spanish Mission, is another who would prefer firm underfoot conditions and this five-year-old could be the one to take advantage of an ageing champ. In the hope that underfoot conditions would be fair for all horses, Spanish Mission is the value play.
The feature race on day four is the race that gives its name to the entire meeting, the Ebor handicap over 18 furlongs. A very competitive race, as usual, is likely with 2020 Ebor winner, Fujaira Prince; the top class staying filly, the Irish trained, Princess Zoe, runner up in the Irish St Leger Trial on her latest start; 2020 Hardwicke Stakes fourth-place finisher, Hamish; the prolific Baron Samedi; Irish springer, Sonnyboyliston who was narrowly behind Fujaira Prince on their last meeting but is now 6 lbs better off, a host of Willie Mullins contenders headed by Saldier and Duke of Edinburgh winner, Quickthorn.
The final makeup of the field will determine the best avenue to pursue in terms of selections but at this early stage, Hamish is a speculative selection. His trainer, William Haggas, has his team in outstanding form in 2021 and knows how to prepare a horse for a big run after a lengthy layoff. This gelding is also lightly raced and so could still be a few lbs ahead of the handicapper.
