20th August
The final day of the Ebor Festival arrived and the most important race of the week took place. Most will see the Juddmonte International as the most prestigious race, but many locals will say the Ebor is the oldest and most valuable race to win. A tough puzzle to crack, made even harder with the recent injection of prize money from sponsors Sky Bet to take the first prize up to £500,000. A competitive field lined up for the fourteen furlong handicap including the likes of progressive Irish challenger Earl Of Tyrone, the popular veteran Euchen Glen and last time out winners including the likes of Trawlerman, Get Shirty and the winner already at the festival, Alfred Boucher making a quick return to action after Wednesday's win. It was the Godolphin owned Trawlerman who was bravest of the brave and battled back after being headed in the final furlong. His will and determination to get back on the line was admirable and it was a second winner of the day for Frankie Dettori as he repeated the feat of his Ebor win in 2012, also on a Godolphin runner.
Elsewhere on the card, the Group Two City of York Stakes has been pitched forward for a potential rise to a Group One title in recent weeks and the race provided its case and argument for the upgrade. The lineup on paper was very strong with seven furlong specialists such as Kinross, Pogo, Sacred and Al Suhail all lining up on the Knavesmire to make it an exciting prospect. It went to the Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross, who showed a smart turn of foot to win the contest and set aim for Doncaster in the future.
In the Constantine Handicap, a brand new race for this year, Summerghand rolled back the years to record a first win in two years. Always a standing dish in six furlong races, he had been catching the eye in recent starts and the veteran showed a great turn of foot to land the valuable race quite comfortably in the end.
Referenced to as the "Junior Ebor", the Melrose Stakes saw an extraordinary performance by Soulcombe who trailed the field by a handful of lengths early on, but when his made his move, it almost appeared like he had just turned up for the race at the two furlong pole. Travelling extremely well and like a fresh horse, he simply bolted up the home straight like a runaway train to land the handicap in emphatic style under Hollie Doyle.
In the final race, the Finale Stakes, it was another glimpse of the future as the John Dance-owned Phantom Flight travelled much the best and in similar style to Soulcombe, left his rivals in the dust to win by five lengths and potential Group race level in the near future.
Winners
Alflaila (5) - O. Burrows - J. Crowley - Dark Angel x Adhwaa
Soulcombe (13) - W. Haggas - H. Doyle - Frankel x Ribbons
Kinross (5) - R. Beckett - F. Dettori - Kingman x Ceilidh House
Trawlerman (19) - J & T. Gosden - F. Dettori - Golden Horn x Tidespring
Summerghand (13) - D. O'Meara - D. Tudhope - Lope de Vega x Kate The Great
Treasure Trove (10) - P. Twomey - B. Lee - Siyouni x Pichola Dance
Phantom Flight (8) - J. Horton - PJ McDonald - Siyouni x Quischi
