1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes
Group 2, York 15:00
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
6f, Class 1   
Wednesday 15th May 2024

SureWIn

1 Mill Stream 4/1F
2 Shouldvebeenaring 12/1
3 Diligent Harry 17/2
14 ran NR: Cold Case Distances: nse, nk, nk
Time: 1m 10.91s (slow by 0.91s)

In a nail-biting finish, Mill Stream surged to victory nder the skilled guidance of jockey William Buick.

Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Mill Stream entered the race as a 4-1 joint favorite in the Group Two contest but it was far from straightforward.

Engaged in a fierce four-way tussle down the home straight, Mill Stream managed to nose ahead of Shouldvebeenaring, with a photo finish required to separate the pair. Diligent Harry, still seeking his first turf victory, secured third place by a neck, while Washington Heights finished a further neck adrift in fourth.

The victory has significantly boosted Mill Stream’s prospects. Now priced at 9-1 (previously 14-1) with Quinnbet, the talented horse is a favorite for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Jane Chapple-Hyam is keen to take on that prestigious race, provided owner Peter Harris gives the green light.

She said: “He’s a tough, brave horse and he’s come on a lot since (finishing second in) the Abernant but he’s only just won.

“I think he’s pretty versatile, he goes on any ground. It was soft when he won in France last year twice but quick in the Abernant.

“I’d like to go to Ascot on the Saturday (Jubilee) but I’ll see what Mr Harris wants to do.

“Mr Harris has landed me with some nice horses and I’m in a lucky position, I’ve got 18 for him so it’s nice to win a big race for him and we’ve got Rolica, the filly, to look forward to and some colts coming through.

“I think he’s good enough to run in the Jubilee, I’d like to see the splits as it’s on the slow side of good today but he’s against older horses.

“Mr Harris is very easy to deal with, he comes up every Saturday morning. He was out of the game for 15 years but now he’s in big. His daughter Alison has her horses with Mr (James) Fanshawe.”

FormRatings

Tom Marquand and Tiber Flow appeared to escape any serious injury when they came down with a couple of furlongs still to run.

Chapple-Hyam added: “I wasn’t sure if we’d won and I appreciate they couldn’t show the replay because of the faller but thankfully Tom and the horse look OK.”

Buick was more than satisfied with the winner’s performance and said: “I got carried left a little bit but he really put his head out and I was delighted he got the verdict.

“He’s been knocking on the door a few times, hopefully this is his year as three-year-olds can struggle when sprinting, he could have a big year ahead of him.” 

Tim Palin, racing manager for Shouldvebeenaring’s owners Middleham Park Racing, was relieved to see the grey bounce back from a disappointing run when favourite for the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket.

He said: “Mill Stream was a worthy winner on the day, it was obviously close in the photo, and we’re just delighted with how our ran because we couldn’t really explain what happened last time – maybe there was a slightly bounce factor going into the Abernant from the Lady Wulfruna (at Wolverhampton).

“We’ve got our horse back, a horse who was running well in Group Ones at the backend of last year in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Prix da la Foret, and we’ll continue to ply our trade in Group Ones and Group Twos.

“He’s in a Group Three over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp a week on Sunday and he’s also in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh a week on Saturday, so he could go into one of those.

“He’s in both sprint races at Royal Ascot and probably him playing at home is the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Haydock Sprint Cup, so I would say those would be his two Derbys, if you can use that term for a sprinter.”

Diligent Harry’s trainer, Clive Cox, could look to Royal Ascot with his runner, though a drop back from six furlongs is likely.

He said: “I’m very proud, it was a big run. I thought we’d done our fighting there and then the first and second came at us very late in the day.

“I’m very pleased he’s in a good place and Richard (Kingscote) gave him a super ride, I couldn’t be more happy bar winning.

“He’s in the shorter race at Royal Ascot (King Charles III Stakes) as I think a stiff five furlongs is more in our favour at the track than stretching him out over a stiff six.”

QuinnBet

Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (Group 2)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    Mill Stream 4 9-10 Jane Chapple-Hyam William Buick 4/1F
2 (6) nse Shouldvebeenaring 4 9-10 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 12/1
3 (3) nk Diligent Harry 6 9-10 Clive Cox Richard Kingscote 17/2
4 (12) nk Washington Heights 4 9-10 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 14/1
5 (10) 1½ Art Power 7 10-1 Tim Easterby David Allan 33/1
6 (7) 1¾ Montassib 6 9-10 William Haggas Cieren Fallon 17/2
7 (8) nse Azure Blue 5 9-7 Michael Dods Paul Mulrennan 14/1
8 (9) 1 Swingalong 4 9-7 K R Burke Clifford Lee 10/1
9 (11) ½ Fivethousandtoone 6 9-10 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 28/1
10 (15) 1¼ Commanche Falls 7 9-10 Michael Dods Connor Beasley 25/1
11 (2) shd Spycatcher 6 9-10 K R Burke Ryan Moore 4/1J
12 (14) nk Marshman 4 9-10 K R Burke Sam James 25/1
13 (13) nse Khaadem 8 9-10 Charles Hills Jamie Spencer 25/1
FELL (4) Tiber Flow 5 9-10 William Haggas Tom Marquand 13/2
NR 2 (1) Cold Case 4 9-10 K R Burke NON RUNNER

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