Elmonjed continued his love affair for the Knavesmire on Wednesday when landing the Group 2 Minster Stakes. The son of Blue Point took his form at York to 631111, finishing a length ahead of Kind Of Blue.
Despite the going description seemingly favouring the stand-side, the track appeared to favour those drawn low at York as Elmonjed cruised up the far-side under William Buick. Joint-favourite Kind Of Blue ran a solid race on his reappearance having fired a blank in five races last season. Regional has become frustrating since his 2023 Sprint Cup success, but he shaped as if there’s another day in him.
Speaking to the Press Association after the win, via Sky Sports, William Haggas said: “He really loves this track. I think the draw helped today. He’s a really tough horse, he’s gone from handicaps and won the Listed in September. We kept him in training to win this race as we thought we may as well have a go at a Group Two.”
Elmonjed’s last success at York came in September, when Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan both suffered serious injuries after their horses came down. Almeraq was one of them, and Haggas said: “Almeraq is fine, he worked this morning, he’s sound and I’m happy with him. He’s pencilled in to run next weekend either at Salisbury or in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh. But he could do with a bit of rain.
“He’ll need his first run, he was a bit shook up after the fall but obviously not as badly as Jim and Trevor.”
‘He needs to go for a Group 1 now’ – William Haggas
Having recorded a career best, a mark of 105 is likely to be belied by the handicapper next week. William Haggas deliberated on his future plans for Elmonjed, stating: “He’s in the Wokingham but I don’t suppose he’ll be running in it.
“I didn’t put him in the Jubilee at Ascot. So I suppose we’ll have a go at the Prix Maurice de Gheest, off the top of my head. A fast, flat track is what he likes and he needs to go for a Group One now. Whether we put him in the July Cup we’ll see but the Nunthorpe is too sharp for him. Maybe the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.”
Elmonjed was one of four winners across three tracks for William Haggas yesterday, including Klassleader at York. Haggas said he’s likely to be back here for the Ebor in the summer. “He will stay the Ebor trip and he is qualified now. You would be a brave man not to run him again beforehand, but I won’t. It’s probably the sensible thing to do because he’s won off 90. If he goes up 5lb to 95, he wouldn’t get in the Ebor off 95 normally. But he is guaranteed a run.