Shock Sussex Stakes winner
Qirat has been supplemented for the Sky Bet City of
York Stakes on Saturday.
The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old was added to the Sussex field late in the day, primarily to carry out pacemaking duties for Field Of Gold, but he became the biggest-priced winner of a Group One in modern history at 150-1.
It cost his owners Juddmonte £70,000 to add him to the Goodwood race and they have paid another £40,000 to run him in York’s seven-furlong contest, which boasts top-level status for the first time this year.
“It looks the right race for him and Ralph felt strongly about it,” said Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte.
“The owners are happy to go along with it, he showed plenty of pace in the Sussex and while a mile is his optimum, I don’t think he’ll have any problem dropping back to seven.”
After his hold-up last week, Richard Hannon has rerouted Rosallion, narrowly denied by Qirat at Goodwood, and the pair are in line to meet once more.
Mahon said: “It looks like we could meet Rosallion again and we know he’s a top-class horse, but he obviously had a little issue last week which stopped him from running in France. We’re looking forward to taking him on again and hopefully we’ll be able to maintain our position from Goodwood.”
Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, also a winner at Goodwood in Group Three company, is another, supplemented for the race.
Andrew Balding’s Never So Brave will aim to maintain his progression having won the Summer Mile last time out while Maranoa Charlie comes over from France to represent local owners Bond Thoroughbreds.
Lake Forest, Audience, Exactly, Cosmic Year, Quinault, Ten Bob Tony, Ides Of March and Annaf make up the total of 13 contenders.