Harry's Half Million Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes
York 14:25
£508,150 guaranteed,
2yo only,
6f, Class 2    
Thursday 22nd August 2024

Boylesports

1 Diligently 22/1
2 Arizona Blaze 11/8F
3 Sensorium 28/1
20 ran NR: Maw Lam, Misty Sky)
Distances: hd, 1l, nse Time: 1m 11.38s (slow by 1.38s)

In a stunning 22-1 upset, Diligently surged in the final strides to clinch victory at York.

The spotlight was initially on Arizona Blaze, Adrian Murray’s Irish contender, who had recently placed third in the Group One Phoenix Stakes.

As the 11-8 favourite, Arizona Blaze, ridden by David Egan, took an early lead and seemed poised for victory in the six-furlong race.

However, Diligently, with Rossa Ryan aboard, was hot on his heels. In a dramatic finish, Diligently powered through on the far side just before the finish line.

This win marked a significant turnaround for Clive Cox’s charge, who had not secured a win in his previous five starts. Diligently’s triumph by a head earned a £249,908 first prize and continued Cox’s winning streak in this race, following Dragon Leader’s success the previous year.

“It was enormously satisfying to win Harry’s (Beeby, the late chairman of Goffs) race last year, he was a very special person to me and to win it two years running is amazing,” said the Lambourn trainer.

“He’s a very nice horse, especially with his pedigree (son of Harry Angel), that makes it all the more pleasing.

“He was one of those horses I wanted to run over five furlongs just to put his brain into gear. I thought he’d run well at Sandown last time, but he got absolutely murdered down on the rail and that’s why he finished nine lengths behind.

“He clearly put that result well and truly behind him today with a very satisfying reward. He’s got a wonderful mind and it’s really pleasing that he’s got a bit of scope to go on next year as well.

“It’s always a step-by-step process, but I’m really pleased that he’s confirmed he is what I hoped he might be. 

“He cost a bit (£100,000), but he’s made up for that investment today and hopefully he’ll continue to progress as well.”

Adrian Murray said of Arizona Blaze: “He looked home and hosed, but he ran a blinder, we’re delighted with him.

“He looked like he had it 200 yards out, but the winner came very late at him, had he come at him sooner we might have hung on.

“We were a little bit slow out of the stalls, it probably cost us a length and David said it probably cost us the race.

“It will be back into Pattern company now, I think Kia (Joorabchian, owner) is anxious to go to America with him for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes
£508,150 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 2
20 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    Diligently 2 9-2 Clive Cox Rossa Ryan 22/1
2 (4) hd Arizona Blaze 2 9-9 Adrian Murray David Egan 11/8F
3 (21) 1 Sensorium 2 9-2 Dylan Cunha Rhys Clutterbuck 28/1
4 (16) nse Jorge Alvares 2 9-2 Kevin Ryan Jamie Spencer 18/1
5 (14) ¾ Against The Wind 2 9-7 Kevin Ryan Shane Gray 28/1
6 (13) 1 An Outlaw's Grace 2 9-5 Richard Hannon Ryan Moore 4/1
7 (19) nk Midnight City 2 9-2 Richard Spencer Robert Havlin 33/1
8 (17) hd Ghost Run 2 8-11 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 13/2
9 (6) nk High On Hope 2 9-2 Tom Dascombe Pierre-Louis Jamin 33/1
10 (12) 2¼ Our Mighty Mo 2 9-2 K R Burke Sam James 150/1
11 (5) ½ Territorial Knight 2 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 10/1
12 (18) 2½ Fear And Fast 2 9-2 Ismail Mohammed Tom Marquand 100/1
13 (3) ¾ American Style 2 9-2 Kevin Ryan Billy Loughnane 16/1
14 (20) ½ Cracking Man 2 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 125/1
15 (11) nk Graduated 2 8-11 Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Gina Mangan 80/1
16 (10) ½ Rock Hunter 2 9-7 Amy Murphy Silvestre De Sousa 100/1
17 (8) hd Bear Kode 2 9-2 Adrian Paul Keatley Connor Beasley 28/1
18 (7) 2 Connie's Way 2 8-11 Hugo Palmer Kevin Stott 66/1
19 (15) 8½ Up The Anti 2 8-11 Jack Jones Dylan Hogan 250/1
20 (1) 2½ Bueno Nacho 2 9-2 Paul Attwater Joshua Bryan 33/1
NR 20 (9) Maw Lam 2 8-11 Adrian Nicholls NON RUNNER
NR 21 (22) Misty Sky 2 8-11 Hugo Palmer NON RUNNER

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