The Knavesmire closes its hallowed curtains this weekend as York’s season draws to an end. Having such a prestigious racecourse on my doorstep is truly a privilege, and it’s safe to say I’ve witnessed another thrilling campaign of world class racing.
May
Approaching the Dante meeting, I had decided to focus upon the low drawn horses for the Lindum Handicap given the ever increasing far-side bias at York. The outcome? Jakajaro made all up the near-side to win going away. Oh dear, long season ahead.
The first Group contest of the season was littered with quality over quantity, and See The Fire backed up her 12 length success in the 2025 renewal with another, albeit a shorter success defeating Juddmonte’s Red Letter by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Immediately after came the Dante Stakes. A contest where the three year olds seek to stamp their authority on a classic campaign. Ballydoyle were doubly represented by Action and Christmas Day, and Godolphin fired three bullets.
However, it was Juddmonte who came out on top with Item (who I recall saying to Brough Scott in the pre-parade looked wooly in his coat), as the Frankel colt confirmed the promise of his unbeaten two-year-old campaign. The Dante would go on to throw up the Derby winner and the Juddmonte International winner.
The Bronte Cup meeting continued to throw up the odd bizarre result as Partisan Hero defied stall 20 in the Class 2 five furlong handicap, he’d go on to place twice in Group company and the fifth, Air Force One, took the valuable £70,000 handicap at the Ebor meeting prior to success in the Portland and the Listed Rous Stakes.
Danielle took the Bronte Cup, before finishing second in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes.
June
As mentioned previously in GG articles, I work in a nearby pub and we often get many familiar racing faces later in the evening. I had made a habit of bumping into Jim Goldie by now. I had a long conversation with him about all things racing in May, admittedly after I’d had a good amount of ale thus likely boring him to death. But, what a fantastic man.
He gave me a good nod for Humble Spark in the Queen Mother’s Cup. Second by a nose. Ouch. Later on in the season I saw him again and he’d say ‘you’re always in here!’, I’m still unsure as to whether he knows I work there, or reckons I frequent the bars too much.
Anyway. I went that day with my brother who’d land the William Haggas double, and I’d finish second again with Andesite. ‘Fancy a tipping column, youngen?’ I said.
Zac Lloyd made a successful debut on the Knavesmire to complete my brother’s double, and the pair briefly talked about Australia after the race. For a young lad getting into racing, I thought it was a brilliant touch from Zac Lloyd to give him a moment of his time, and it just shows how wonderfully approachable this sport can be in making those feel welcome.
The Summer music meeting on the 27th June saw Becky Hill perform after racing. Ironically, I thought her most famous song ‘Lose Control’ must’ve been an omen for the day as my good bet on Schrodinger’s Cat finished second, but he was giving 5lbs to Naana’s Shadow who was beaten length in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye last weekend.
Never So Brave nor Saber Strike could justify their market position as Qirat produced his customary surprise success in the Criterion Stakes.
July
A holiday in Parma at the start of July which saw me break my phone, and very nearly not get on my flight due to somehow not having a seat for a flight I’d paid for, meant I was already financially on the back foot for the John Smith’s Cup meeting.
The Lost King produced an excellent performance in the Class 2 Mile handicap, going on to finish the season 16lbs higher having finished second in two group events and winning the Grand Finale Handicap at the Ebor meeting.
Raammee took the John Smith’s Cup in good style, and he too followed up at York’s Ebor meeting. Mount Atlas took the Group 3 Silver Cup Stakes by a head, further adding insult to injury after I had a good bet on him at the Ebor meeting last year where a bizarre switch to front running tactics failed to work out. I’d get my own back as Al Nayyir beat him a month later for the GG column.
We celebrated one of my best mates’ birthdays later that month as we annually do at York and stayed back for Tom Grennan’s performance.
The less said about the punting the better for myself. It looked as if the Paul Midgeley jump jockey’s nunthorpe glitch had been patched, albeit we had each way returns on Ventura Express. One of the lads’ missus backed the winner Kodiac Thriller. ‘Fancy a tipping column?’ I said, for the second time this season.
Royal Champion was the big bet of the day. A devastating winner of the race a year before beating Almaqam. His subsequent form conquered all in this lineup, what could go wrong? Cruising over two out, I half turned around to collect my winnings. Now this is a group of people who wouldn’t know the most about racing apart from one lad, who was adamant Item would win. Lo and behold, Item found a second gear after looking in need of three miles around Hexham at one stage, and duly obliged. ‘Fancy a tippi- ah sod this. Pint.’
It was only appropriate that Dwindling Funds won the next race, Jim didn’t mention that. Flight Control got me out of trouble in the last, to a degree.
Ebor week
I strongly believe the Ebor Festival is the greatest four days of racing on the planet. I’m unsure whether that’s home bias, but the racing, the people you meet, the city after racing; if ever I could bottle up how I feel during that week and take a dose at the beginning of every Monday, I would.
I’ve met some of the best people I know through racing, and I was with a few of them on Juddmonte day along with my brother. I think 90% of the year’s rain fell prior to racing that Wednesday. Our Almaqam slips were increasing in value by each soaking drop.
Corolla Point got me off to yet another second, while my brother celebrated his winnings on Air Force One. I’ve never known such spawny newcomers’ luck. Predictably, Gentle Hurricane followed that up with another second, unable to replicate our success with Gewan in last year’s Acomb Stakes. I didn’t think it was a great renewal, but the winner did land the Royal Lodge Stakes later last month.
The Great Voltigeur was a solid race on paper, Christmas Day, the Dante third and Derby winner, was sent off favourite after some strong late money. Maltese Cross reversed the Derby form to win, but visually the general consensus between us all was it didn’t look to be a great race.
Onto the big one. The Juddmonte International. Ombudsman was looking to become the first back to back winner since Hailing in 1996. Constitution River was coming into the race on the back in Galileo comparisons. Item had the crucial York form. Zaydann was on a six timer for Graffard.
But for me, and a few others in our group, this was all about Almaqam. I’d backed him a day prior for the column at 25/1, again in the morning, and again once the rain came in abundance. I don’t think I’d ever been so confident.
Coolmore’s pace-setting tactics went to pot early on. Devil’s Advocate couldn’t go the early gallop and Ombudsman was far too back. Almaqam was in the Mayor’s Office throughout. Position A. In the back of my mind was how many seconds I’d already had this season, including the two on the day. But not this time. Nothing could go wrong. Everything had gone right. “Almaqam on the outside emerging as the danger. Inside the final furlong, Almaqam is in front. Almaqam and Item. AND IT’S ITEM AND ALMAQAM. OH MY GOODNESS.”
Devastation. Desolation. Deflation. Heartbreak. Hubris. Every possible emotion you could witness happened in that final furlong. One of the worst beats I’ve ever had, and probably will ever have. We were celebrating with 100 yards to go. I don’t think I said a word for five minutes. Hands on head, staring soullessly into the abyss across the Knavesmire turf where Jennet Preston was executed and hanged for Witchcraft in 1612. I’m sure there was something supernatural occurring that day.
Another one of the lads would then back Mountain Road who finished second in the following event, won by Melbourne Cup bound Small Fry. The same lad would back Manatee Mehmas, second to Miss Yechance who made all off 90, before winning the Abbaye. The same lad would back God Give Talent who in his words, was given an ‘absolute stones’ in the last.
Between our group, we backed the second in six of the seven races. To make matters worse, the usual Italian we go to after racing was booked up. We had to settle for a Thai which in fairness, was remarkable.
Yorkshire Oaks day saw Albany winner Libertango land the Lowther, and the Albany second, Sun Goddess, blitz her rivals in the Harry’s Half Million Sales race which would create a divide on X as to whether she was allowed to compete. She was quite literally bought in the Goffs UK Premier yearlings sales. Move on.
Kalpana landed the Yorkshire Oaks in a thrilling renewal, just pipping Bolger’s Sparan Nua. Prizeland continued an excellent festival for Andrew Balding as she took the Galtres Stakes, with the yard completing the card with another winner in Machadadorp.
Al Nayyir gave us a welcome winner in the Lonsdale Cup on Friday, as Caballo De Mar still appeared to be feeling the effects of Ascot. Some training performance to get him winning the Cadran, beating Scandinavia.
Bacio broke the Nunthorpe curse for Wesley Ward further pondering how on earth the BHA handicapper let him in on a mark of 100 for Royal Ascot. Say What You See was third for us that day, caught far too back early on.
Onto Ebor day. Archivist opened the card with a seven length success in the Strensall Stakes. James Doyle, again on the end of the wrong Wathnan horses, had Damysus back in fourth. Them witches again.
Infraad took the Melrose prior to his Noel Murless Stakes win last week. Gold Cup contender next season?
Notable Speech produced a scintillating performance in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes, and Alan King landed the Ebor with Daiquiri Bay. Wathnan had the second and third, Doyle on the third, and Rodriguez dropped his whip a furlong out. Ouch.
Adonius was second in the Listed contest prior to winning a Group 3 over in Keeneland, a remarkable feat for the dual-purpose yard of Rebecca Menzies, and Raammee followed up his York success in the Finale.
September
The season at York quietens down after the Ebor, and sadly I missed the Sunday meeting due to being in Benidorm. I wish I hadn’t, as I recall sitting in a bar watching United draw 2-2 to Everton while simultaneously feeling like death.
William Haggas capped off his season with a treble, all ridden by Cieren Fallon.
There’s still the two day season finale to come this weekend, but on a personal note, it’s been another brilliant season on the Knavesmire. We’ve had some good winners for the column, and more seconds than your single uncle at a wedding buffet.
The racing lived up to the billing. Above all else, there were memories made that I’ll cherish forever. Until next season, York. Forever and always in my heart.