BETWAY YORKSHIRE CUP ATTRACTS STRONG FIELD

TRAINER Charlie Hills looks to have a strong hand for the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes, which will be staged on the opening day of York’s 2016 season –Wednesday 11 May

The £120,000 Group 2 contest has attracted an exciting initial entry of forty- eight, including three from Hills’ powerful stable at Lambourn.

Hills enjoyed a stellar year in the sprint division last year – thanks in the main to four-time Group 1 and York winner, Muhaarar. The Oasis Dream colt has since been retired to stud, but Hills still looks to have a clutch of speedsters to contend in the key races once again.

Strath Burn and Magical Memory – second and third in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup – and Listed winner Cotai Glory all look capable of making their mark among the fastest sprinters of 2016.

Hills said: “We are looking to go straight to the Duke of York with Strath Burn. He is well. Magical Memory is coming along and I think we shall look to run him somewhere before York.

“I have also entered Cotai Glory in the Duke of York. We are also looking at running him somewhere before and we shall know more then.

“We are some way off but I am happy with how they have all wintered.”

Haydock Sprint Cup hero Twilight Son could renew acquaintances with Strath Burn and Magical Memory at York over six furlongs. Another intriguing entry is the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Shalaa, who won the Group 1 Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes last season.

Two other notables to mention are the 2015 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Mecca’s Angel and Bobby’s Kitten, who was a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner in 2014. The latter named had his first start for trainer Dermot Weld on Monday when he won a Listed race at Cork by eight and a half lengths!

The highlight on day three of the Dante Festival, Friday 13 May, is the £160,000 Betway Yorkshire Cup. The Group 2 contest, run over the Ebor handicap trip of a mile and three-quarters, has been won in recent years by the likes of Red Cadeaux (2012) and Gospel Choir (2014).

The latter is among this year’s twenty-eight strong entry, which also features emphatic Group 1 Irish St Leger winner, Order of St George and Kingfisher, who chased home Trip To Paris in last year’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Both colts represent trainer Aidan O’Brien who has yet to saddle a winner of this prestigious prize.

Top Yorkshire-based handler, Richard Fahey, saddled Glen’s Diamond to win the Betway Yorkshire Cup three years ago and he has made an entry for the Dr Marwan Koukash-owned Suegioo. The 2014 Chester Cup hero put up a solid effort to be fourth in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan last weekend.

York’s season-opening Dante Festival runs from Wednesday, 11 May to Friday 13 May 13.