Success Days
Success Days

Success Days handed interesting option at York


Ken Condon will look to the skies over York this week as he considers an outing in the £120,000 Sky Bet York Stakes for Success Days.

The five-year-old is a multiple winner in Pattern-race company, with his latest success coming over Fascinating Rock in the 10-furlong Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in August.

He finished fourth behind Decorated Knight in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May again at the Curragh and was last seen out going down narrowly to Johannes Vermeer under a penalty in the International Stakes at the same course earlier this month.

Condon said: "The ground is the most important factor for Success Days. York had rain at the weekend and they are forecast a bit more during the week.

"We will probably have to make our minds up on Wednesday, but we are keen to run if the ground is on the easy side.

"Success Days is rated as a high as anything in the race, bar one, and the track at York should suit him well."

Sir Michael Stoute captured the inaugural York Stakes in 2006 with Best Alibi and could saddle progressive four-year-old Autocratic, the winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, where he had a length a quarter to spare over runner-up Algometer.

The latter has since finished third in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket and his trainer David Simcock has also entered improving five-year-old Desert Encounter following his third in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes. Both have the alternative of lining up in the King George at Ascot on the same day.

Godolphin's two entries are made up of top-rated Prize Money (Saeed bin Suroor), who defeated Postponed in Dubai earlier this year, and Moonlight Magic (Jim Bolger) who could turn out quickly after a Group Three triumph at Leopardstown last week.

Richard Fahey is doubly represented by Forest Ranger, the only three-year-old among the entries, and popular eight-year-old Gabrial.

Forest Ranger was second behind impressive winner Beat The Bank in a Listed contest at Newmarket on his latest start, while Gabrial was fourth in Ascot's Summer Mile.

Fahey said: "Forest Ranger is an intended runner. Gabrial is a possible starter, but we will also look at a Listed race at Pontefract for him on Sunday.

"Both horses are fit and well, and I will make a final decision later in the week."

The entries also feature dual Group One winner Mondialiste (David O'Meara, Hathal (William Haggas) and Air Pilot (Ralph Beckett).

With running plans up in the air, Sky Bet have had a stab at pricing the race up, making Autocratic the 5/1 favourite, ahead of Desert Encounter at 11/2. For the full list of prices, click here.

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