Item bounces back with smooth York win
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 25 Jul 2026
Item put his Derby flop at Epsom behind him when producing a powerful staying performance to land the Sky Bet York Stakes.
Back at the scene of his Dante triumph on the Knavesmire in May and back at 10 furlongs, Andrew Balding’s three-year-old became the first winner from the Classic generation to land the Group Two contest since Best Alibi in 2006.
In doing so he proved his Epsom disappointment when ninth as a well-backed 11-2 shot was all wrong.
After initially appearing to labour behind leaders Pride Of Arras and Royal Champion two furlongs out, Rob Hornby got the colt’s head in front with a furlong to go.
From there to the line he pulled away strongly to win by two and three-quarters of a length at 3-1 from Pride Of Arras in second.
Balding said: “It was a great performance and it’s never easy with a penalty but he looked to be doing it well at the end.
“He’s beaten some nice horses there so you have to be delighted.
“I haven’t discussed or thought about plans at the moment but he has a lot of interesting entries and he deserves another go in a Group One.
“I’m pleased and relieved. Obviously we went to Epsom with high hopes and it didn’t happen but he got back on track today. It’s never easy winning with a penalty but he’s done it and it encourages us too have another go at a Group One.”
While Epsom had not gone according to plan, winning rider Hornby suggested the colt improved for the experience.
Hornby said: “He has shown a bit of resilience to come back from what was a hard race for a lightly-raced three-year-old in the Derby on very soft conditions and coming back here today on ground which is more to his liking it has worked out well.
“Epsom would have been tough but it might just have made a man of him. He has relaxed beautifully today, is a big powerful horse and he has a big stride, but it’s all about just getting things the right way round.
“He hit a bit of a flat spot but he was strong at the line and he is racing more professionally and is growing up. This is only his fifth run and he has beaten older horses today.”
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