Review of York Ebor Festival 2007

Once again Channel 4′s coverage of four races each day was excellent. The highlight for me was the lovely Emma Spencer interviewing her husband Jamie after he had won the Ebor Handicap on the handicap good thing Purple Moon. I wonder what they talk about at night ? Seriously though, congratulations must go the Luca Cumani team for improving the horse after an unsuccessful spell over hurdles. The Ebor is the richest handicap in the world and the Cumani stable was winning it for the third time since 1999. On only his fourth appearance on a racecourse Honolulu ran a tremendous race for a three year old. On 9 stone 2 pounds he only carried two pounds less than Purple Moon and was only beaten 3/4 of a length. Those two were 2 and 1/2 lengths in front of everything else. I wonder if Aidan O’Brien will run him in the St. Leger ?
Peeping Fawn was running her tenth race of the season in the Yorkshire Oaks and is another horse that has improved with every run. She is tough, consistent and acts on any going. Will she run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ? I would rather be taking the 7/1 about her winning than the 2/1 about Authorized. He reversed Eclipse placings with Notnowcato and beat Dylan Thomas the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner. At Royal Ascot over 10 furlongs Manduro beat Dylan Thomas and Notnowcato. It is building up for an intriguing race in France at the beginning of October.
Lucarno was a good winner of the Great Voltigeur and is probably going for the St Leger but as already mentioned I would rather be on Honolulu.
The lightly raced Septimus returned to winning ways in the Lonsdale Cup. He looks a ready made staying replacement for the Coolmore team when Yeats has finished his racing.
For the first time in fifteen years the Nunthorpe Stakes was won by a two year old in Kingsgate Native who happened to still be a maiden. The generous weight for age allowance was highlighted by Jim McGrath of Timeform when discussing the race with John Francome.
The next big race to look forward to will be the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup over six furlongs on Saturday 8th September. Sakhee’s Secret is a antepost favourite for this and it is difficult to see him getting beat if he turns up in the same form as at Newmarket.
For all your racecards with the runners and riders go to the sporting life.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".