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14:30 York

Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 4f
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 32.04s
  • 6 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Hard Top (IRE)

6/1

    2
    Silk -

    The Geezer

    6/4

      1(2)
      Silk - Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap

      Avalon

      31
      6/1
      • Form 1
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9

      behind, pushed along over 6f out, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, nearest at finish

      2(6)
      Silk - Royal Blue, Light Blue chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap

      Brahminy Kite (USA)

      21
      11/2
      • Form 21-243
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 108

      with leader, ridden to lead over 3f out, soon headed and outpaced

      3(3)
      Silk - Pale Blue, White and Yellow check cap

      Hard Top (IRE)

      27
      6/1
      • Form 5-1
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 95

      chased leaders, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, ran on to lead close home

      4(5)
      Silk - Grey, Red Cross of Lorraine, hooped sleeves, quartered cap

      Kong (IRE)

      73
      6/1
      • Form 43-210
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 107

      held up in touch, ridden to go 2nd over 2f out, one pace final furlong

      5(4)
      Silk - MAROON, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star

      Melrose Avenue (USA)

      60 DC
      15/2
      • Form 154-131
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 107

      led, veered right after 2 1/2f, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon outpaced

      6(1)
      Silk - Purple, Light Blue chevron, Light Blue cap

      The Geezer

      21 D
      6/4
      • Form 128311
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 114

      held up in rear, headway to track leaders over 7f out, led over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, headed close home

      Previous results

      2004
      (2)
      Silk -

      Rule of Law (USA)

      11/8
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9

      2003
      (7)
      Silk -

      Powerscourt

      5/1
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9

      2002
      (5)
      Silk -

      Bandari (IRE)

      4/5
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-9

      In depth

      Verdict

      A tricky renewal of this Group Two contest can go to Brahminty Kite, who just edges preference over The Geezer, who is proving to be a typically reliable type to emerge from the David Elsworth yard. Expensive purchase Avalon could be anything and has to be respected as a threat, while Melrose Avenue should make a bold bid to enhance Mark Johnston's double-barreled approach. Melrose Avenue has experience of the course and can make the running if necessary. However, quite whether he has the class to strike at this level is open to debate and he may just be in there to help set things up for his stablemate. Avalon is out of Oaks winner Lady Carla and cost 1,000,000gns when he went through the sales ring. He should have not trouble with the trip and comes here on the back of a very pleasing debut at The Curragh last month. Aidan O'Brien describes him as a 'lazy at home' and he has not been the easiest horse to get fit. The St Leger is his main aim but it will come as no surprise to see him play a leading role here before being readied for Doncaster. The Geezer is versatile regarding his ground and was impressive when powering on to land the Gordon Stakes three weeks ago. However, he benefited from a great tactical ride on that occasion and, on this very different course, he is unlikely to be allowed to the luxury of a slow start. Therefore, we switch to Brahminty Kite, who will be much better suited to this more conventional surface. Kevin Darley has an excellent strike-rate at the course and, with the ground not expected to be a problem, Brahminty Kite is just fancied to come out on top this time around.

      Formwatch

      Avalon Evensfav (9-2) Held up in mid-division, 6th into straight, smooth headway 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, clear final furlong, easily, won at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stk gf in Jul beating Tammany (8-11) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.

      Brahminy Kite (USA) 15-8 (8-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, effort on outer 3f out, challenged from 2f out, just held for 2nd near finish, 3rd of 5, 6l behind The Geezer (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Jul.

      Hard Top (IRE) 4-9fav (8-13) Dwelt, soon in touch, not clear run 3f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, soon clear, won at Lingfield 1m 3f mdn stk (5) gf in Jul beating Silent Jo (8-13) by 5l, 9 ran.

      Kong (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Midfield, 11th and weakening straight, tailed off, last of 13, 42l behind Motivator (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.

      Melrose Avenue (USA) 4-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, led briefly 3f out, led again over 1f out, ran on, won at York 2m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun beating Mr Vegas (8-11) by 1l, 10 ran.

      The Geezer 3-1 (8-10) Dwelt, soon tracked leader, led 2f out, in command over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Jul beating Unfurled (8-10) by 5l, 5 ran.