YORK

THE TIMEFORM VERDICT Timeform ratings and verdicts for four of the big races at York’s Ebor meeting.

GREAT VOLTIGEUR JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL TELESCOPE 134 TORONADO 142 CAP O’RUSHES 130 AL KAZEEM 138 SECRET NUMBER 129 DECLARATION OF WAR 135 SPILLWAY 127? TRADING LEATHER 131 WILLIE THE WHIPPER 126 HILLSTAR 130 Timeform’s Verdict Timeform’s Verdict Sir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer in this race with six wins, and the fact Trading Leather and Hillstar need to step up a fair bit, whilst Declaration of War is that he’s willing to send Timeform HorseTo Follow Telescope into battle less than solid but beatable, and this looks likely to boil down to Al Kazeem and Toronado. a fortnight after Haydock appears significant, so he’s taken to swiftly return to Al Kazeem has done little wrong this term but Toronado’s form is superior for our winning ways. From a big entry at the six-day stage, it’s interesting that Aidan money and, with his pedigree offering encouragement, he can take the step up O’Brien relies on the once-raced Foundry, however he will have to concede race- in trip in his stride and land the spoils. fitness to his six rivals, and a bigger danger could be Gordon Stakes winner Cap O’Rushes.

YORKSHIRE OAKS NUNTHORPE THE FUGUE 129 SHEA SHEA 130 SCINTILLULA 125 SOLE POWER 129 VENUS DE MILO 123p SLADE POWER 129 WILD COCO 122 MOVIESTA 125p RIPOSTE 122 SWISS SPIRIT 124 Timeform’s Verdict Timeform’s Verdict Venus De Milo has done little wrong in her brief career to date and is easily the South African-trained Shea Shea and Irish raider Sole Power will get their ideal most progressive runner in the line-up. She looks the pick of the three-year-olds, conditions – namely a fast five furlongs on quick ground – and look the two though the classic generation don’t look a vintage bunch as a whole, and it may to concentrate on, with the former’s 3-1 lead in their private battle tipping the be best to side with The Fugue, who has had a break since the Eclipse and can balance in his favour. Sole Power contributed to two of the last three renewals go one better than she managed in this event last year. Wild Coco is another to being won by three-year-olds when successful at 100/1 in 2010, and Moviesta consider. has claims of improving that statistic, with the similarly progressive Slade Power also respected.

All ratings weight-adjusted, correct as of 21/08/13 YORK ASK THE JURY Three of Timeform’s editorial team give you their view on York’s Ebor meeting.

Mark Powell-Bevan Adam Brookes Andrew Mealor Head of Content & Communications Deputy Print Editor Print Editor Al Kazeem has come of age this year and is Timeform adjusted ratings tell you the Al Kazeem has clearly done little wrong a solid favourite on the back of four straight answer is no. If Toronado stays, which both this year in landing three Group 1s but it’s wins but there is no value in backing him his pedigree and running style suggest is arguable that he’s yet to beat a real top- at 11/10. He’s up against the highest-rated likely, he should take all the beating and notcher, which Toronado undoubtedly is horse in training in Europe in the shape of may even announce himself as the best now following his defeat of Dawn Approach Toronado, who is a generous-looking 2/1, horse in the world, as he has just 1 lb to at Goodwood. That Richard Hannon’s colt is and there are others in the field who could find with Wise Dan currently. Al Kazeem is unproven over the mile and a quarter trip is also prove dangerous including Declaration a strong stayer at the trip and, therefore, clearly the reason for the current discrepancy of War and Trading Leather, both Group 1 it’s fair to assume that his connections will in the prices between the two, but it’s worth winners. The doubt over whether Toronado endeavour to make this a test of stamina, remembering that he was being touted as will stay the longer trip is the sole reason for though with no pacemaker he may have a Derby hope at one point (his sire is dual- him trading at such a big price, but he’s the to do his own donkey work, which may Derby winner High Chaparral), and for me if best horse in the race and it’s worth taking a render him a sitting duck for master stalkers Toronado stays – which I think he will – he chance on him. Toronado and Hughes. Toronado will out- will come out on top. speed Al Kazeem when let down a furlong

Is Al Kazeem a banker? Kazeem Al Is out, with the pair a good few lengths clear of the rest come the line.

No prizes for originality here, but Opinion William Haggas may have lost Stencive Sir Mark Prescott trained Chivalry to win looks a deserving favourite for the race. from his team, but he still has strong the 2003 Cambridgeshire coming back A typical Sir Michael Stoute-trained late- claims courtesy of the progressive Sun from an absence of over 11 months, and I developer, he looked a pattern winner in Central. This lengthy half-brother to such fancy he can work similar magic with the waiting when improving to land the Duke as George Washington and Grandera is lightly-raced Pallasator, who hasn’t been of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot and far more straightforward than some of his seen on the track since last September. was undoubtedly unlucky not to finish siblings and has struck up a really good Successful on all three of his outings last closer when only fifth in the Old Newton partnership with Seb Sanders this year, the year, Pallasator has plenty of size, scope and Cup at Haydock last time. The way Opinion pair combining for their second success in stamina, just the sort to do better as a four- finished once he managed to get in the a course-and-distance handicap last month. year-old, and it’s possible he’s been kept clear at Haydock suggests this step up in Though he will be conceding weight to the back for this valuable prize by his shrewd trip will bring even more out of him and he majority of the field having been raised 8 lb handler. An entry in the Long Distance Cup

Ebor fancy looks sure to be thereabouts. to a BHA mark of 108, Sun Central still has later in the campaign suggests he’s thought more to offer and looks just the sort to run better than a handicapper, and he could well in this race, with the likely quick ground well prove some way ahead of his current right up his street, too (his record on ground BHA mark. faster than good according to Timeform reads ‘10121’).

There are any number of exciting youngsters The connections responsible for last year’s Kevin Ryan landed the Acomb back in 2005 that will be unleashed on the Knavesmire Gimcrack winner Blaine will bid to repeat the with subsequent Group 1 winner Palace over the week, but the one that interests feat with Astaire, who showed his rivals a Episode, and his sole entry for this year’s me most is J Wonder, who is set to run in clean pair of heels when winning his second renewal, The Grey Gatsby, really caught the Lowther on Thursday. A $300,000 sister race from three starts in a minor event at the eye when landing his only start to date, to the smart Chachamaidee, J Wonder has Newmarket. He looks a smart sprinting two- a maiden on the Knavesmire in July, the done all that’s been asked of her in winning year-old and will go very close on Saturday, same race the yard won with Blaine the both starts to date and her form is working while his physique gives plenty of potential previous year. The Grey Gatsby looked to out well, the filly she beat at Newmarket looking to later years as well. Away from have plenty in hand that day despite clear last time having subsequently gone on to the Group races, Aidan O’Brien has unraced signs of inexperience, and the form has finish second in the Sweet Solera. J Wonder Group 1 entries Giovanni Boldini and substance, too, with the second and third remains with loads of potential and can Johan Strauss pencilled in for Friday’s both successful next time out. All the signs give Brian Meehan a second Lowther Stakes Convivial Maiden, a contest the trainer are that The Grey Gatsby is a well above winner after Lady of The Desert in 2009. used to introduce subsequent Middle Park average juvenile, and he can hopefully winner Crusade in 2011 and won last year justify his Timeform large ‘P’ in the opening by the Coolmore-owned Wentworth. Group race of the meeting. Juvenile to watch out for out watch to Juvenile