Yorker set for UK campaign
SA-bred runner Yorker, a 7yo gelding by Jet Master out of the four time winning Al Mufti mare, Little Indian has been nominated Yorker among 55 entries for the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on 15 October 2016.
With £1.3m in prize money, the QIPCO Champion Stakes is the most valuable mile and a quarter race in Europe and other entries for the mile and a quarter contest include the first for four home in the Investec Derby – Harzand, US Army Ranger, Idaho and Wings of Desire – as well as the first five home in 2015 headed by the Dermot Weld charge, Fascinating Rock. The list also includes Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned Champion Stakes winner, Hawkbill.
SA Campaign
Yorker was bred by Varsfontein’s Mr & Mrs Carl de Vos and was a R1,8 million purchase on the 2011 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. He raced in the interests of Messrs B Kantor, MJ Jooste, FEJ Lewis & Mrs I Jooste and was trained by Randjesfontein-based trainer, Geoff Woodruff. On home soil, Yorker won 6 times from 14 starts, including the 2013 Gr1 Summer Cup, 2014 Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes and 2014 Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge.
After withdrawing from the 2014 Vodacom Durban July due to the weight assignments, Yorker was exported to Dubai and joined Mike de Kock’s string for the 2015 International Racing Carnival.
Unfortunately the strapping son of Jet Master did not progress as hoped in the UAE and was subsequently shipped to the UK where he is currently in the care of William Haggas in Newmarket.
UK campaign
Yorker has yet to debut in the northern hemisphere, but has been penciled in for a prep run at York’s Ebor meeting. The Group 3 Betfred Mobile Strensall Stakes is carded over 1 mile 208 yards at York and scheduled for 14:15 (15:15 local time) on 20 August 2016.
Haggas commented: “If we can get him back to his best he’s worth a shot at any decent race in Europe. He’s had a few issues but, at the moment, he’s in really good nick. We are hoping very much to get him ready for the Strensall Stakes at York and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards from there.”
