Racecards
15:00 York
Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £56,770
- 2nd: £21,520
- 3rd: £10,770
- 4th: £5,370
- Form 5/11261-
- Age 8
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer H Candy
- Jockey P Cosgrave
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
Dalghar (FR)
191- Form 153223-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey J Fortune
went left start, prominent, ridden over 1f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong
Delegator
186- Form D35/148-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey L Dettori
held up towards rear, ridden and good headway final furlong, stayed on strongly to lead towards finish
- Form 10342-1
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on, no extra towards finish
- Form 1444-31
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 221-554
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
- Form 1/0561-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey M Dwyer
tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened well over 1f out
- Form 400-760
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 103
mid-division, pushed along and headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 009922
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M Dods
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
held up towards rear and keen, never a factor
- Form 01164-5
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon led, kept on, headed last 50 yards
- Form 44740-0
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 93
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, every chance inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
- Form 1U500-7
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey R L Moore
towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on inside last 150 yards
- Form 261520-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 106
hampered start, held up towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 131-5
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer G R Oldroyd
- Jockey T Eaves
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
In depth
Verdict
Prime Defender gained a shock victory a year ago but this looks a higher quality event. It's intriguing to find Delegator racing over a sprint trip for the first time in a career that has seen him mixing it with the likes of Sea The Stars, Rip Van Winkle and Goldikova. Whether he'll have the pace for this is another matter while Andrew Balding's acquisition from France Dalghar is another who is better known over further though he will love the ground and had enough speed to finish runner-up in the Diadem last year. Genki is a cracking sprinter on his day but could just prefer faster going, a remark that also applies to Rose Blossom. REGAL PARADE will love the ground and has a fitness advantage over some main rivals after a run over 7f on heavy going at the Curragh. He led for a long way when a very close fourth behind Goldikova in the 7f La Foret at Longchamp in October and he'll be primed for this by Dandy Nicholls.
Formwatch
Markab 12-1 (9-3) With leader stands side, led that side over 2f out, ridden to lead overall over 1f out, hung left towards far side inside final furlong, stayed on well final 50 yards, won at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sep beating Lady Of The Desert (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Dalghar (FR) (8-13) 3rd of 14, 10l behind Definightly (8-11) at Maisons-laffitte(FR) 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Delegator 25-1 (9-0) Pulled 3 w, bid, tired, 8th of 11, 6l behind Goldikova (8-11) at Churchill Downs(USA) 1m Grp 1 (1) fm in Nov.
Genki (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Held up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead final 75 yards, won at Newmarket 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gf in Apr beating Iver Bridge Lad (9-5) by nk, 13 ran.
Hamish McGonagall 11-10fav (8-12) Made all, hard driven approaching final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Musselburgh 5f cond Stakes (2) gs in Apr beating Waffle (8-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Hitchens (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Towards rear, not clear run 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on well, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Jimmy Styles (9-2) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Apr.
Inler (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden 2f out, edged right and stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Genki (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gf in Apr.
Prime Defender 14-1 (9-10) Raced center, led 1f, prominent, ridden 3f out, kept on, one pace final furlong, 10th of 24, 5l behind Pastoral Player (9-1) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf.
Rain Delayed (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, went 2nd post, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Tangerine Trees (9-0) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Regal Parade 9-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, close 5th halfway, driven along from over 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, soon no extra, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 6l behind Lolly For Dolly (9-1) at Curragh 7f Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Tiddliwinks 8-1fav (8-13) Raced center in touch, ridden to challenge 2f out, soon every chance, weakened inside final furlong, 12th of 24, 5l behind Pastoral Player (9-1) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf.
Triple Aspect (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, ridden and one pace over 1f out, 7th of 16, 3 1/2l behind J J The Jet Plane (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Rose Blossom 28-1 (9-6) Raced prominently, under pressure at halfway, faded after, 12th of 21, 7l behind Gilt Edge Girl (9-6) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Ladies Are Forever 5-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Barefoot Lady (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.