SIR Michael Stoute has revealed a typically strong team for next week’s Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

The Newmarket-based trainer will be represented in two of the meeting’s Group 1 contests, by Exosphere and Queen’s Trust.

Exosphere, who won the Jockey Club Stakes in April and was third in another Newmarket Group 2 on his last start, will contest the richest race of the Festival and Britain’s highest rated, the Juddmonte International on Wednesday (17 August).

Queen’s Trust returns to a mile and a half in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Thursday, August 18) after running a fine race to finish second to the brilliant Minding over ten furlongs in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood a fortnight ago.

The Newmarket based knight, also plans to send Royal Ascot hero Across The Stars for the Group 2 Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes on the opening afternoon, although he will have to carry a 3lb penalty for his Berkshire success.

Stoute said: “Exosphere will run in the Juddmonte. We are putting him back to a mile and a quarter and hopefully it will suit him. It’s a tough race but we are going to throw our hat in the ring.

“Also on Wednesday, we’ll have Across The Stars in the Voltigeur. He is in good form. I hate running him with that penalty but it’s a race for him at this stage because I wanted to give him a good break after the King Edward.

“Thursday, we have Queen’s Trust in the Yorkshire Oaks. I was very happy with her run at Goodwood but she showed in the Ribblesdale (Stakes at Royal Ascot) that a mile and a half suits her just as well. We’re going to have a crack.”

Sir Michael also brings to the Knavesmire a selection of progressive three-year-olds.

He said: “On Thursday, we have Abingdon in the Galtres (Listed) and Mustashry in the Clipper Logistics mile handicap.

“I don’t know if Forge is going to go in the City of York (Group 3, over seven furlongs on Friday) or the nine-furlong Strensall Stakes on the Saturday – so he will be double-entered. And on Saturday we have Shraaoh in the Melrose (Stakes Handicap).”

Of that quartet, Mustashry won a competitive Class 2 handicap at Ascot on King George day, while the other three were all narrowly beaten into second.

Forge lost by half a length in a Goodwood Group 3 over a mile, while Shraaoh was short-headed in a mile and a half handicap at the same meeting. Abingdon went down by two lengths in a twelve furlong Listed race last month at Newmarket.

Stoute has enjoyed many a memorable moment at York’s premier event. He has won the Juddmonte International five times and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks an incredible nine times. The Betway Great Voltigeur is another race that has served him well, with no less than seven victories.

He added: “I love York. When I came to England, I went to Malton and got to know the Knavesmire very well. It has been a very successful venue for us over the years. It’s a beautiful racecourse.”

For Tickets PLEASE CALL 01904 620911 x225. Or visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk