Racing
Yorkshire bounces back with strong Festival performance
Yorkshire has underlined his claims for Sydney’s premier race of the summer with victory in a key lead-up.
Promising gelding Yorkshire has rebounded from a minor health setback to take out the Group Three Festival Stakes at Rosehill, a win that his trainer admits is a bonus.
Yorkshire started favourite in The Hunter (1300m) first-up but was eased down late and subsequently diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia.
Co-trainer John O'Shea had reassured punters during the week that the horse was back on track, but he was equally cautious about his Festival Stakes (1500m) prospects on the score of race fitness.
Thanks to a positive ride by Zac Lloyd, Yorkshire was good enough to win, and O'Shea said that augured well for his grand final in next month's The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick.
"I thought one of the contributing factors with what happened to him at Newcastle, was he was unsaddled behind the gates, and he got a little upset," O'Shea said.
"He got out of his rhythm and all those things probably contributed to what wasn't a good day for him.
"Today, we were mindful we had our T's crossed, our I's dotted in terms of our preparation before the race.
"We were confident we'd gone through the process to get him back. I was surprised he was able to control the race like he did, but that was the key to winning."
From the rails draw, Lloyd took Yorkshire ($2.70 fav) to the front and he never looked in serious danger, despite Arctic Glamour ($8.50) flashing home late to whittle the winning margin to a neck, with Melody Again ($31) another short neck further back.
The victory gave Lloyd a treble on the program and a black type double after steering Flying To Fun to victory in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).
His day was later soured by a careless riding suspension stemming from his win in the fifth event aboard Lyles, but he will return in time for The Ingham.
Gerald Ryan was rapt with the performance of Arctic Glamour, who backed up her Hot Danish Stakes win with another promising run and will get a chance at turning the tables on Yorkshire at Randwick.
"I know The Ingham is going to be harder, but we'll have a crack at it. She is going really well," Ryan said.
The 2023 Australian Derby victor Major Beel claimed the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) in what was just his second win since taking out the classic.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the gelding's two runs over a mile had been solid and he'd been looking for a middle distance.
"He has been quite consistent in his form, but he does need the right conditions to break through," Bott said.
"The key is just getting out to 2000-metres today and aided by a lovely ride by Rachel (King), things fell into place nicely for him."
Major Beel is likely to press on to the Summer Cup over the same journey next month while runner-up Shangri La Spring could head in the same direction.
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