Coral Sprint Trophy Day, York Finale – Saturday 9th October 2021

Good afternoon, from a bright and pleasant Knavesmire!

It’s the Coral Sprint Trophy Day, a six furlong cavalry charge of 22 runners that looks a huge betting contest, and a tricky one to decipher. Commanche Falls edged out Gulliver in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood in July, both of whom were in front of a winner at York on their next start in Great Ambassador, who triumphed in the Garrowby Stakes here on September 5th. He has since gone on to run second in the Ayr Gold Cup, so the form is there for both rivals, who reoppose today.

Mr Wagyu tends to save his best for York and could run well, as could Staxton, who is up 5lb for a success in the Silver Cup at Ayr, at a price of 25/1. It promises to be a stellar contest, and a huge minefield of a headache for the punter, but all the best handicaps are!

Racing starts with the Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Nursery Stakes, with La Pulga looking to be the horse to be on. Beaten a neck by Desert Angel last time out at Doncaster, that rival went on to win at Newmarket. They do reoppose today, but the latter has a further 5lb rise to deal with.

Animato is progressing nicely and warrants respect on handicap debut for David O’Meera, while Dark Moon Rising is another that is improving all the time and could have something to say at the finish. Hamaki is also of interest for the leading National Hunt owners of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede in their famous Double Green colours.

The Coral “Beaten-By-A-Length Free Bet” Rockingham Stakes follows this, and the eye is drawn to the form of Ever Given, a winner already this season at York when prevailing in a sales race at the Ebor Meeting in August, and one that the team from Manor House Stables ( Tom Dascombe ) are very much hopeful about for the future.

Canonized enters the shortlist with her second place in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes behind Nazanin at Ayr, while Hellomydarlin would have been one to feature, but they are out of the contest today as they are a non-runner.

The “Play Coral Racing Super-Series For Free” Stakes is the third race on the card, a 1m 2f contest in which Pythagoras has been backed from 18/1 to 17/2, a steamer in the betting. The favourite is Bay Bridge, who despite a five month absence is fancied to take this if returning in the same form he was in before an enforced break. The original favourite was Faisal, however they are now a non-runner. Sinjaari and Cockalorum also hold viable chances in a contest that should be informative towards plans for next year, or a winter All Weather Campaign.

The Coral ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes, for two year olds, is the fifth race of the day, with all horses classed as Maidens for not having won a race. The only horse in the declarations to have won a race was Another Investment, however he is a non-runner. Elsals makes his debut in this race for Richard Hannon and Shadwell, and has a fair amount of stamina in the pedigree, so may appreciate the seven furlong trip.

Octopus is another newcomer, but as he is a half brother to the Donald McCain trained Mackenberg, he may need more distance and a stiffer test to be fully seen to best effect.

Speranzoso shaped well on debut at Haydock last month and could make steady improvement, while Matvei Platov has done nothing but improve with every one of his 3 runs this year, and it would be unlucky if he was not to get his head in front, especially given his sire is the great American Pharoah.

The penultimate race of the day, and the season at York, is the Coral “Best Odds Guaranteed” Stakes, run over 2 miles. The eye is drawn to the Fergal O’Brien trained Gumball, who is usually seen winging a fence or hurdle rather than on the level. He makes his debut for the team at Ravenswell Farm, and can give jockey Hollie Doyle a good spin.

Buriram was second at Chester last time out over 1m 4f and takes a step up in trip. Eagle Court was second at Haydock over 1m 6f and takes a step up in trip. Bendalid also takes a step up in trip from 1m 4f, as does Midrarr and Red Force One. It will be interesting to see which horse takes the step up in trip today in their stride.

The final race of the day, and York’s season, is the Coral “Proud Sponsors Of British Racing” Finale Stakes, over 1m 2f. Last Look was last seen in Meydan over 1m 1f in February, and while she has a decent each way chance, her last win was over two years ago. Man Of The Night ran well last time out at Ayr and has to take billing, while Tarroob has to enter calculations on the strength of the form of the yard. William Haggas’ team are flying at the minute, and he may be able to continue that good form and gain a first win of the season if translating the aura around the yard to his performance.

For the final time this season at York, it looks a great day of racing, and it will be a long winter for the course, as we await the chance to return.