An exciting day in store as the gates crashed back to signal the first race of York's new season. Quality was the order of the day and on ever-drying ground, the cream rose to the top. 

Race One: The Sky Bet "Race To The Ebor" Jorvik Handicap - Class Two - 1 mile, 4 furlongs - 15 Runners.
Winner: SCAMPI (#16) - H. Turner - A. Balding - Nayef x Provenza
The long awaited first race of York's season got underway and it was a good quality staying handicap over twelve furlongs. The Jorvik Handicap holds status as a "Win And You're In" trial for the venue's flagship race later in the year, the Ebor Handicap.. The previous two renewals have been won by William Haggas in the form of Ilaraab and Gaassee, both similarly lightly raced four year olds for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum. 
With the race often used as a platform for a lightly raced type, there were plenty of four year olds representing their generation. Amongst the most interesting of runners was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Real Dream. Carrying the silks of Saeed Suhail, just as Desert Crown had last year, the lightly raced son of Lope de Vega was on a nice upward curve having won on his last start. Making his seasonal reappearance was the representative for the William Haggas and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, La Yakel. The four-year-old was hoping to follow the trend of the past two years and won a valuable handicap at Ascot last September. Other four year olds in form included recent Newmarket runner-up Crystal Delight, Typewriter, Thundering and an intriguing runner in White Wolf, who raced in the Dante twelve months ago. Plenty of York regulars featured in the race such as Kevin Ryan's Forza Orta, Ralph Beckett's Sam Cooke, the winner of two runs in a row when last seen and Tim Easterby's Dark Jedi. 
With the late withdrawal of La Yakel, it meant the trophy would go to someone other than Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and in a thrilling finish, the race went the way of Scampi for his microshare owners Raceshare. Always travelling prominently under jockey Hayley Turner, Scampi was in a good position making his move at the two furlong pole. Grabbing the lead inside the final furlong, the five year old battled bravely against challengers on both sides to hold on for the win. A length seperated the first four home and plenty from off the pace finished with a flourish. Second and third went to Sam Cooke and Real Dream respectively. For the winner though, it was a marked improvement on all known form. Going under the radar last season, Scampi won three times at this distance but was stepping up into class two company for the first time. His tenacity came to good effect and he guaranteed himself a spot in the Ebor Handicap back at York in August. A major win for his syndicate owners and why should stop dreaming here when bigger prizes lie on the horizon?

Race Two: The Churchill Tyres Handicap - Class Two - Six Furlongs - 21 Runners
Winner: BIELSA (#16) - O. Murphy - K. Ryan - Invincible Spirit x Bourbon Bell 
A regular feature of York's season each year are very competitive and valuable sprint handicaps and the first of those took place here with a class two, six furlong handicap. Many regular faces returned once again to do battle on the Knavesmire and they included the evergreen Dakota Gold. The battle hardened nine year old, trained by Michael Dods, shares the record of most wins at York with Stradivarius and Copper Knight; a total of six victories in their career. As time begins to draw in on his career, connections will be keen to get one more win for the outright record. 
The nature of this kind of race at York attracts the usual suspects and if the race was run once a day for a whole week, the winner would be different each time. A maximum field of twenty two took to the start and the four-year-old Khanjar was popular with punters. A sprinter on the up last year, he is expected to make a much stronger horse this year. Former Ayr Gold Cup winner Bielsa returned for another season, former winners at York such as First Folio, Summerghand, Mr Wagyu and Gulliver made another return to the Knavesmire.
With front runners drawn all over the track, there was plenty of pace for everyone. The main group chose the favoured stands side while a smaller group raced on the far side. Sitting on the heels of the leaders, Bielsa was always in the firing line and gained his first win since the Ayr Gold Cup in 2021. A quiet year in 2022 saw his rating drop to below his last winning mark and signs of a revive were shown on his previous start when second at Redcar. The similar layout of York played to his strengths and he made an overdue return to the winner's enclosure under Guineas winning jockey Oisin Murphy. The first two had a crumb of sunlight between them and the third horse, but it would be Lethal Levi who settled for the runner's up spot with Magical Spirit in third and Spirit Of Light in fourth. 

Race Three: The 1895 Duke Of York Stakes - Group Two - 6 Furlongs - 11 Runners

Winner: AZURE BLUE (#10) - P. Mulrennan - M. Dods - El Kabeir x Sea Of Dreams 
The first of the Group races at York this year is an event which is building higher in stature over the past few seasons. The six furlong sprint for older horses has seen the likes of Harry Angel, Invincible Army and Starman win recent runnings. Last season saw the continuation of the rags to riches story of Highfield Princess, who won this race on her way to winning the Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix Maurice de Gheest. A remarkable career, having risen from 58 in the ratings to a current 119. 
The John Quinn-trained filly was back amongst the high class entry list as the country's biggest sprinters were set to duel it out with the added spice of a leading international horse. Group One winners Art Power, Creative Force and Emaraaty Ana were joined by Australian raider The Astrologist. Trained by Leon and Troy Costens, the six year old is a rare runner for Australia and is spending the summer in Britain with a view to running at Royal Ascot. Narrowly denied in Meydan's group one Al Quoz Sprint, The Astrologist will be the first Australian runner at York since Criterion in the 2017 Juddmonte International. Michael Dods is an adept hand at training fast fillies and his Azure Blue has risen rapidly through the handicaps and was a listed class winner on her recent reappearance at Newmarket. 

After the success of dual Nunthorpe winner Mecca's Angel, the Darlington stable of Michael Dods has another high class female sprinter in the shape of winner Azure Blue. The grey showed plenty of speed early despite racing keenly on ground quicker than ideal. With the presence of a leading Australian sprinter and Highfield Princess, the pace was always going to be hot, but it would be the four year old daughter of El Kabeir who came out on top. Showing she is more than a one track horse, Azure Blue added a Group Two win to her recent Newmarket listed race. Her fifth win in seven starts, it is still hard to judge how far up the ladder the filly can go. Highfield Princess put in another great run for second despite carrying a weight penalty and the winner's stablemate Commanche Falls flew home for third. 
The devastating post script to the race came with the loss of Creative Force mid race. Tragically losing his action in the early stages of the race and leaving many fans devastated. A high class sprinter who won at Royal Ascot and at Group One level, his loss is sorely felt. He will be missed greatly. 

Race Four: The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes - Group Three - 1 mile, 2 furlongs - 8 Runners.
Winner: SOUL SISTER (#8) - F. Dettori - J & T. Gosden - Frankel x Dream Peace
The first of the premier trial races for Epsom takes place with the Musidora Stakes over ten furlongs. Although there are little similarities between Epsom and York's layouts, trainers often feel the Musidora Stakes is the best trial for the Oaks. In previous years, the best of the fillies on the roll of honour list include Sariska and Snowfall, winners of both the Epsom and Irish Oaks in 2009 and 2021 respectively. Snowfall's win at York was the prelude to something incredible at Epsom where she won the Oaks by sixteen lengths, breaking the record for biggest winning distance in a British Classic. 
Twelve months ago, Emily Upjohn was very stylish in winning at York before going down narrowly at Epsom by a short head. She would later go on to with Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot later in the year.
The class of 2023 would include some exciting prospects and unknown quantities looking to have their say in the Oaks debate. Second favourite in the Oaks antepost markets Infinite Cosmos was the biggest name in the entry list and the daughter of Sea The Stars only won a maiden at Newmarket last time out, but did so with impressive ease. A stamina laden filly, she wouldn't be in the race for a day out. In opposition, the lineup included the stoutly bred Midnight Mile for local trainer Richard Fahey and 2021's winning trainer Aidan O'Brien was solely represented by Lambada. A dark horse on the back of a maiden win, but beautifully bred as so often is the case for the Coolmore operation.  Unknown quantities in the race included Gather Ye Rosebuds, a near ten length debut winner for Jack Charlton and Empress Wu for trainer David Simcock, who is always respected for training fillies. John and Thady Gosden's Soul Sister looked a smart prospect with a debut win, but was looking to get her career back on track after disappointing over seven furlongs last time. 
The Epsom Oaks outlook would be blown wide open by a deeply impressive winner in the form of Soul Sister, who bolted up with some ease. Ridden by the retiring legend Frankie Dettori, it was a repeat of last year's win with Emily Upjohn for the same connections. Held up early, the maroon silks of Dettori loomed large and they challenged with two furlongs to go. When the accelerator was pressed, the response was instant and the daughter of Frankel powered clear. Cantering to a four length win, Soul Sister made sure everyone knew about her by the end of the day. After getting bogged down on heavy ground last time, the filly bounded across the quicker ground and relished the extra distance here. A potential swansong Oaks win for Frankie Dettori looks highly possible. Last year's Fillies' Mile runner up Novakai kept on for a distant second while favourite Infinite Cosmos could only take third. 

Race Five: The Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap - Class Three - 7 Furlongs - 14 Runners

Winner: DARK THIRTY (#8) - S. Levey - R. Hannon - Starspangledbanner x Beach Wedding

After the glamour of the group class events, it was the turn of the handicappers once again as this three-year-old only race is often a pointer to a smart horse of the future. The seven furlong contest is always a tricky puzzle to solve, but future Group One winner Space Blues landed the race in 2019 and this year's renewal saw plenty of lightly raced types with big futures in store.

This year's renewal looked set to be a fascinating race with many in form three year olds doing battle and others from leading stables entering handicaps for the first time. The likes of Waiting All Night, Caragio, Chuzzlewit and Catch The Paddy had raced in group company as a two-year-old so this type of race would be slightly easier, but they faced the in form recent winners Hey Lyla and Onight. Zu Run from the Andrew Balding stable and Theme Park for the Nigel Tinkler stable made their handicap bows from appealing looking opening ratings. 
A candidate for ride of the day went to Sean Levey for his winning ride on Dark Thirty for the Richard Hannon stable. Using his early speed from the stalls, Levey took an early lead on his mount as his rivals were tightly grouped on his heels. Upping the pace and going clear at the halfway point, Dark Thirty responded well and soon he had a few lengths advantage. Ramazan joined Dark Thirty in the final furlong with Catch The Paddy staying on well, but it would be Dark Thirty who bravely denied all his rivals to land this smart handicap. Despite having his tenth start already, his experience was put to good use and he appreciated the better ground than recent weeks. 

Race Six: The British EBF 40th Anniversary Novice Stakes - Class Two - 5 Furlongs - 7 Runners:

Winner: MON NA SLIEVE (#6) - T. Eaves - K. Ryan - Exceed And Excel x Victory Wave.
This novice race brought with it a lot of unknown qualities as many were making their debuts in this race. The valuable prize money and high class nature of York racecourse meant the race attracted some smart two-year-olds over the minimum distance of five furlongs. Former winners of this event have gone on to subsequently feature at Royal Ascot with Areen, Project Dante and Santry all finishing place in the Windsor Castle Stakes later that year. 
A field of eight runners took to the track and remarkably, there was just one horse with racecourse experience beforehand. With a major advantage over his newcomer rivals, Mashadi was unsurprisingly a hot favourite for the race and the Amo Racing-owned colt trained by Richard Hannon was beaten by a head on his recent debut at Newmarket. The remaining seven runners made their debuts but hailed from stables highly capable of sending a first time out winner. Aidan O'Brien newcomers in British maidens are very rare so the presence of The Caribbean, a son of No Nay Never and a half brother to the group class performers Roman Empire, Star Of India and Sudirman. Elsewhere, the strong team of Karl Burke introduced Kylian, the first foal of a listed winning filly, Land Lover for the Nick Bradley Racing outfit and Brave Empire, a colt for the Roger Varian stable out of a speedy juvenile. 
Yet another potentially smart horse broke his maiden at York as the newcomer Mon Na Slieve made a winning debut for trainer Kevin Ryan. The colt left a lasting impression with his temperament in the preliminaries and at the stalls, before making all the running and stayed on nicely to win by just under two lengths. It was a perfect start to racing and Royal Ascot could be on the cards in the next few weeks. An expensive breeze up purchase for his owner, he clearly had the looks from an early stage and it was also nice to see the colours carried by Amadeus Wolf in the mid 2000's back in the winner's enclosure. Mashadi had to settle for second again while debutant Kylian showed promise in third. Catching the eye further back was Land Lover in fourth. 

Race Seven: The Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap - Class Three - 1 mile, 4 furlongs - 17 Runners

Winner: KIHAVAH (#11) - T. Marquand - A. Keatley - Harbour Watch x Roheryn. 

A contest to bring the day's racing full circle as the last race starts at the same place as the first race. The twelve furlong handicap for older horses is usually well contested with not much between the runners. Many arrived fit from a spell on the all-weather and this year was no different. 
Last year's running was won by Kihavah under Ryan Sexton and the horse returned once again to defend his crown, this time with Tom Marquand in the saddle. With a large field of nineteen runners, the race looked wide open with many holding more than reasonable chances. Recent winners Splendent and Vallamorey went toe to toe with plenty of in form horses such as Vega Silica, Strawman and Sea Grey. Previous course form was on show with former track and trip winner Molinari, Shake A Leg and Dubai Instinct.
The outcome would see history repeat itself as Kihavah landed the race for the second time running. A smart hurdler as well as a good flat horse, connections have been mixing things up over the winter and Kihavah last raced in a hurdle race last month. It would seem that this race was always on the agenda and the long term plan paid off nicely for trainer Adrian Keatley as the six year old tenaciously answered every call from Tom Marquand. With plenty of chances at the furlong pole, it would be Vega Silica who came out of the pack to take second, frustratingly for connections as it was now his sixth second place in seven starts. Splendent was always prominent and took third with the lightly raced Reach making up most ground for fourth.