Horse Racing News Update: Ebor Festival 2024 Preview

The Clive Cox-trained colt has underlined his class by finishing third to Derby hero, City of Troy, in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown last month. On that occasion, just two lengths separated the pair, with subsequent Group One winner Al Riffa splitting them.

Now, Cox’s charge, owned by Jeff Smith (no stranger to Juddmonte International success, thanks to Arabian Queen in 2015), is set to face off against City of Troy once again in the £1.25million highlight of the opening day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival 2024.

Lambourn-based Cox said:

“I think we were close enough last time that it keeps us hopeful that we can run a similar sort of contest. The rain that fell the night before at Sandown would’ve taken a little bit of impact from our performance. So, I hope that we can look forward to coming up to York on some nice ground.”

He added, “He’s a horse that we’ve been pleased with his progress. Unbeaten at two and so far this year he has run with huge credit. Stepping up to a mile and a quarter, he ran very well in the Eclipse against City of Troy and also Al Riffa, who franked the form yesterday with his Group 1 success in Germany.”

Cox may also be represented in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday August 23, with Kerdos potentially lining up in the five-furlong Group 1 race after an encouraging fifth-placed effort behind Big Evs in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

All three of the Group One races at York, including the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday August 22, form part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

🔗 Source