A spectacular York Ebor Festival concludes on Saturday afternoon at York.
Over the entire week only 6mm of rain were recorded on Thursday evening, and track conditions on Saturday should remain good, good to firm in places.
It has been a riveting week at York Ebor 2024 Festival (Pic – York Racecourse)
Audience is the selection in the feature, the Gr2 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (16h00). The Gosden trained runner has been a revelation this season winning two of his three starts this year including the Gr1 Lockinge at Newbury on his seasonal return.
On that occasion the five-year-old ran his opposition off their feet, coming home nearly two-lengths clear of the top-class Charyn. Beaten by the runner-up next at Ascot in the Gr1 Queen Anne, he then showed his class in the Gr2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. Over tomorrows 7-furlong trip he easily accounted for Art Power and Kinross by four-lengths.
Kinross re-opposes, but ideally needs soft ground now and Lake Forest is a more likely candidate to chase the Cheveley Park runner home.
William Haggas’ charge has not triumphed since taking the Gr2 Gimcrack at this fixture last year, but he has run two excellent races in defeat this season.
The three-year-old returned to the track at Royal Ascot where he was a fast-finishing second to Inisherin in the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs before running on strongly again to finish runner-up in the Hackwood Ebor Stakes at Newbury.
With an extra furlong to travel here, he looks the danger.
Earlier on the card, See The Fire can make full use of her fillies’ allowance in the Gr3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (14h50) run over nine-furlongs.
Beaten just a neck by Opera Singer in the Group One Nassau Stakes, she is the form choice getting weight all round and champion jockey elect Oisin Murphy stays aboard.
Down the road at Goodwood, Lead Artist could provide the Gosdens with a Group 2 double on the day in the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (15h40).
The Dubawi colt won a good race over course and distance earlier this month beating the highly regarded Kings Gamble at levels in a Group 3. He missed the break a little that day but kept finding for pressure over the final furlong and his three-quarter-length verdict confirmed his class.
A late developer who is clearly on the upgrade, Lead Artist receives 6lbs from his main dangers and is the one to beat.
