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Genes Reunited

Bell issues Sariska warning.

Michael Bell has confirmed this afternoon, if York do not water the course prior to tomorrow's card, it is unlikely Sariska will line up for the Darley Yorkshire Oaks,

"We want to run, and if the ground has some give we will be there, but if the ground is firm, I am afraid we will have no option but to leave her in her box."

Star Rover holds all comers in Roses Stakes.

Star Rover proved too strong for his rivals in the Listed Roses Stakes at York this afternoon. Taking it up right from the start, he used his rail position to good effect, and held off the late challenge of favourite Mister Manannan to score by a neck. A multiple winner in the early part of the current season, this was Star Rovers first win in over two months, and this was indicated in his 14/1 starting price.

Sesenta lands Ebor in front of unlucky Changingoftheguard.

There is a proverb in racing which states, 'you can give weight, but you can't give start', and unfortunately for favourite backers, this proved to be true in today's Totesport Ebor Handicap. Changingoftheguard reared at the start and lost several lengths, along with any advantage of his mid position draw. Thereafter, Johnnie Murtagh had to play catch-up and then settle for an unsatisfactory pitch in the pack.

Meanwhile up front, Warringah had made full use of his number 1 draw, and Ryan Moore tried to control the pace of the mile and six furlong contest from the front. With the top weight still in front, the race began in earnest at around the two furlong pole. Warringah managed to hang on to the lead until the furlong pole, but then he was swallowed by a wall of horses including the Willie Mullins trained Sesenta, who took it up close to home. All the while Johnnie Murtagh had been looking for ways through a wall of horses, and when he eventually found an open space, he flew after the leader, but unfortunately for favourite backers he could not catch Sesenta who passed the post in first place.

The unlucky Changingoftheguard had to settle for the runner-up spot, with the late finishing Hits Only Vic and Nanton grabbing the minor honours.

Showcasing boosts Arcarno form.

Taajub tried to make all in the six furlong Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, but favourite Showcasing was always travelling nicely in behind the leaders, and when asked to quicken in the final furlong, he ran on powerfully past the one paced Taajub, with the somewhat disappointing Monsieur Chevalier only managing third place in his first attempt over six furlongs.

Bearing in mind Showcasing was no match for Arcarno at the Newmarket July Meeting, then it leaves one to wonder just how good Arcarno may prove to be.

Askar Tau confirms Tregonning revival.

Marcus Tregonning had to close his yard earlier in the year as a virus worked its way through his string of thoroughbreds, but gradually the Lambourn trainer has found the winning touch as his horses have returned to the track, and this resurgence was capped this afternoon when Askar Tau powered home to take the Group 2 Lonsdale Stakes at York.

At the two furlong mark, favourite Drill Sergeant was joined by Royal and Regal, the latter seeming to be going easily, but when asked to quicken, Royal and Regal started to go backwards, and Ryan Moore then saw his opportunity to go for home on Askar Tau in today's extended two mile contest. Vizored for the first time in today's race, Moore kept Askar Tau up to the task, and in the final furlong he stayed on well to hold off a renewed effort from Drill Sergeant.

More to come from Lady of the Desert.

Brian Meehan seems confident Lady of the Desert is a 'good thing' in tomorrow's Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes on the Knavesmire. A daughter of the unbeaten Queens Logic, the two year old filly will attempt to emulate her mother's achievement in landing tomorrow's contest, and Meehan believes she has what it takes, commenting earlier today,

"She has progressed since her win in the Princess Margaret Stakes, and I believe she is the one the others have to beat in the Lowther."

Seventeen declared for Nunthorpe.

2007 and 2008 winners Kingsgate Native and Borderlescot head a seventeen strong field at today's 48 hour decleration stage for Friday's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Brian Meehan's two year old Norfolk Stakes winner Radio Head will try to emulate Kingsgate Native's achievement of winning the five furlong contest during his juvenile year, but Michael Bell's Art Connoisseur and Henry Candy's Amour Propre are two entrants who are also capable of winning the race if they turn up on a 'going day'.

Eight declared for Strensall Stakes.

Following today's 48 hour decleration stage, eight horses remain entered in York's Group 3 Strensall Stakes for this coming Friday. Despite a relatively small line-up, the contest looks very competitive, with Godolphin having recent dual winner Spring of Fame, Sir Michael Stoute represented by Glass Harmonium and Perfect Stride, while Russian Sage will make his British debut for Mike de Kock. Forgotten Voice side stepped the Juddmonte International to compete in this easier contest, while Lord Admiral has taken similar evasive tactics to avoid Casual Conquest and Curtain Call in last Sunday's Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.

Friday's field is completed by Dream Lodge and Palavacini, both of whom are capable of winning a Group 3 if they line up on a 'going day'.

Studd returns to racing on Saturday.

Claimer Charlie Studd will return to race riding when he accompanies Miss Black and Blue at Newton Abbot this coming Saturday. The promising jockey suffered complications to a broken arm, and has subsequently been sidelined since December of last year. In a recent interview Studd said,

"I have been work riding for about four weeks, and have had no ill effects from the arm, so I am naturally delighted to get back into full action this coming Saturday."

Urban Poet heading to Newmarket.

Having put in a good performance to obtain third position behind Harbinger in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, Urban Poet has returned to the Godolphin operation after a period with Mark Johnston, and after putting in a good work-out on the Lime Kilns at Newmarket yesterday morning, connections confirmed he will probably have an outing in the Windflower March Stakes at Newmarket on 29 August.

Mastery a definite entry for the St Leger.

If Tuesday's Great Voltigeur winner Monitor Closely is to take part in the Doncaster st Leger, it will require connections to make the sizeable outlay of the supplementary fee to confirm his participation in the Classic, and based upon information coming out of the Peter Chapple Hyam yard, that is a very unlikely proposition.

However, the second and third in yesterday's Group 2 already have entries in the final Classic of the season, and having already competed in races of up to two miles this season, the Godolphin organisation know yesterday's runner-up Mastery will get the St Leger trip, so they have had no hesitation in confirming their Italian Derby winner will line up at Doncaster.

Henry Cecil had expected Father Time to win yesterday's contest at York, and he could only assume his charge had not let himself down on the fast ground. With this in mind, Cecil hinted Father Time would only take part in the St Leger if connections considered the ground to be suitable on the day.

Galway fixture switched to Roscommon.

According to the official 2009 racing calendar for Ireland, Galway racecourse were due to stage an extra evening fixture tacked on to the end of their normal late August three day meeting, but after consultations amongst Galway officials, they decided for the sake of continuity, to ask Horse Racing Ireland to make alternative arrangements for the fixture planned for 01 September.

HRI have agreed to the Galway request, and the fixture will now take place at Roscommon on 08 September, thus creating a two day fixture at Roscommon on 07 and 08 September.

Good news for Lanwades Stud.

The Newmarket based Lanwades Stud has received two good pieces of news over the last twenty four hours.

Having been withdrawn at the beginning of this year due to low fertility, twenty one year old Selkirk has been passed by veterinarians to return to stud duties in 2010. The son of Sharpen Up has proved a prolific sire of winners over the years, and the thought of more Selkirk progeny in the future is good news for the racing industry.

In addition, Archipenko, the winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong QEII Stakes when with trainer Mike de Kock, is also to start his stud career at Lanwades in the new year.

Poet prevents a royal victory.

The script for the meeting at Killarney last evening suggested a first royal winner at the Irish track - The Michael Bell trained Four Winds was to be Her Majesty the Queen's first runner at Killarney, Jamie Spencer had foregone York to ride this solitary mount in Ireland, and Four Winds was odds on favourite to land last evening's Listed Vincent O'Brien Memorial Ruby Stakes - But the Aidan O'Brien trained Poet had No intention of following the script. Obviously suffering no ill effects from his third in Sunday's Group 3 Desmond Stakes at the Curragh, Poet took it up in the home straight, and try as he might Spencer could not get Four Winds on terms, thereby disappointing his royal connections, and the many punters who had supported Four Winds into 4/7 favourite for last evening's race.

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