| Course: YORK | Race date:17/05/06 | Race time:3:15 | Runners:16 |
| Race distance:6f | Going:Good To Soft | Winners time:1m 12.54s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steenberg | Michael Hills | M H Tompkins | 2 | 9-2 | 7 | 116 | 105 | 25/1 | 46 | 35.71 | 25 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Quito | Tony Culhane | D W Chapman | 13 | 9-2 | 9 | 115 | 110 | 10/1 | 17.5 | 13.05 | 10.5 | 2.02 | 2 | ½ |
| Somnus | M J Kinane | T D Easterby | 9 | 9-2 | 6 | 109 | 111 | 7/1 | 14 | 9.04 | 7.2 | 4.1 | 3 | 2 |
| Fayr Jag | T Quinn | T D Easterby | 3 | 9-2 | 7 | 103 | 111 | 40/1 | 80 | 62.54 | 36 | 2.6 | 4 | 1¾ |
| Gift Horse | Eddie Ahern | D Nicholls | 7 | 9-2 | 6 | 101 | 106 | 12/1 | 18.5 | 13.13 | 5.7 | 2.02 | 5 | ¾ |
| Eisteddfod | L Dettori | P F I Cole | 6 | 9-2 | 5 | 100 | 110 | 11/2J | 9.6 | 7.81 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 6 | ½ |
| Philharmonic | K Darley | R A Fahey | 4 | 9-2 | 5 | 97 | 100 | 16/1 | 27 | 20.62 | 18 | 19 | 7 | 1 |
| The Kiddykid | Jamie Spencer | P D Evans | 1 | 9-2 | 6 | 96 | 104 | 20/1 | 40 | 30.41 | 21 | 16 | 8 | hd |
| Mecca's Mate | Fergal Lynch | D W Barker | 14 | 8-13 | 5 | 91 | 101 | 66/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | ¾ |
| Fonthill Road | Paul Hanagan | R A Fahey | 15 | 9-2 | 6 | 93 | 103 | 16/1 | 28 | 22.93 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 10 | shd |
| Moss Vale | Adrian T Nicholls | D Nicholls | 11 | 9-2 | 5 | 90 | 109 | 12/1 | 18 | 13.78 | 9.4 | 2.2 | 11 | 1¼ |
| Beckermet | John Egan | R F Fisher | 10 | 9-2 | 4 | 86 | 110 | 33/1 | 70 | 48.08 | 17.5 | 9.4 | 12 | 1¼ |
| Etlaala | R Hills | B W Hills | 5 | 9-2 | 4 | 81 | 110 | 11/2J | 8.2 | 7.09 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 13 | 1¾ |
| Welsh Emperor | Robert Winston | T P Tate | 16 | 9-2 | 7 | 80 | 110 | 6/1 | 13 | 7.79 | 7 | 5.3 | 14 | nk |
| Balthazaar's Gift | N Callan | K A Ryan | 12 | 8-11 | 3 | 69 | 111 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 15 | 5 |
| Royal Millennium | Ted Durcan | M R Channon | 8 | 9-2 | 8 | 59 | 103 | 33/1 | 100 | 62.39 | 48 | 60 | 16 | 2 |
STEENBERG, runner-up to The Kiddykid on that occasion, and also second in 2004, made it third-time lucky with a solid display from his low draw. Kicking clear inside the last, he was on his way to victory when Quito reached top gear. The cut in the ground suited the winner perfectly and nobody can say he did not deserve this Group 2 victory.
The remarkable Quito, who relishes a strong end-to-end gallop, picked up with a vengeance entering the final furlong and stayed on strongly, only to find the winner beyond recall. He is a credit to his connections and, one of these days, he may well cinch a major prize when everything falls just right for him.
Somnus, fourth in this race last year, improved a place on that effort and there was much to like about the way he stayed on strongly inside the last after being switched to the centre of the course. His trainer admits he was never happy with him for much of last season, but the 2004 champion sprinter could well bounce back this year on this evidence.
Fayr Jag, a stablemate of Somnus, looked an absolute picture beforehand, and ran a blinder on ground too easy for him. He is not a horse to underestimate as we turn into the summer.
The Kiddykid, last year's winner, but without a win since, was unable to run to that level this time.
Of the others, Fonthill Road could never play a hand, Moss Vale showed speed, but faded and Etlaala, after racing keenly towards the outer of the centre-course group, hung and weakened sharply under pressure.
Welsh Emperor, fourth and third in the last two runnings of this race, was well held this time after never being able to dominate.
Balthazaar's Gift, the only three-year-old in the field, and carrying a 4lb penalty for his Group 2 win in France last backend, found this too tough and could never land a telling blow before weakening in the last two furlongs.[T.O'R]
Racing results courtesy of racing post. Please note that ever effort is made to ensure results are correct but I accept no liability for mistakes. The data is provided as a free service.
Please visit my Blog or sign up to my racing forum for the latest news and views.