8th July
A great start to the traditional early summer highlight at York, the John Smiths Meeting where the weather and on-track action were equally red hot.
The feature of the seven race card was the Group Three William Hill Summer Stakes for fillies and mares over six furlongs. A valuable race for a prospective breeding career for horses finishing in the placings to gain "black type" and a useful meeting point for up and coming handicappers and very classy horses dropping down to the level after finding Group One company too hot previously. The race was won by the speedy three-year-old Flotus, who had the best form in the race after a third place in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. She justified favoritism for trainers Ed and Simon Crisford and was ridden by former champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.
Elsewhere on the card, there was a very impressive win for Middleham Park Racing two-year-old The Platinum Queen as she scorched home to a wide margin victory and regained the winning thread having dipped her toes in Royal Ascot company. A deserved win for Kevin Ryan's Forza Orta who landed the opening race after a season of consistent performances and a double for leading owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum with Saleymm and Asaassi.
As racegoers basked in the sun, the racing action was exciting and provided a great appetiser for the main event tomorrow, the John Smith's Cup Handicap.
Race winners:
Forza Orta (Kevin Ryan / Kevin Stott) (#5)
Flotus (Ed and Simon Crisford / Silvestre de Sousa) (#8)
The Platinum Queen (Richard Fahey / Oisin Orr) (#2)
Asaassi (Roger Varian / Cameron Noble) (#1)
Saleymm (Ed and Simon Crisford / Silvestre de Sousa) (#3)
Ghathanafar (Tracey Waggott / Dale Swift) (#1)
Master Richard (Ann Duffield / Andrew Breslin) (#3)
