skip to main content

Izzi on top at York

John Gosden and William Buick followed up a first day double with the smooth success of Izzi Top in the Betfred Middleton Stakes at York.

Izzi Top is a daughter of Zee Zee Top who won the Group Two event nine years earlier for the same owners, Helena Springfield Ltd, before going on to claim the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp - a race Gosden is now targeting.

Izzi Top won the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on her first start this season to prove that she had returned as good as ever.

Having finished third in the Oaks last term, hopes were high she would progress and all the evidence so far suggests she has improved a good deal.

The 7-2 favourite was always travelling kindly in the hands of Buick a couple of lengths behind the leader Mohedian Lady before hitting the front.

She had to be ridden out to hold off Godolphin's Sajjhaa by a length and a half.

Gosden said: "She's a really lovely filly. She won on this day last day beating the Oaks winner (Dancing Rain) a head (in the Swettenham at Newbury).

"We obviously went on to finish third in the Oaks and I think she has improved quite a lot from three to four.

"It was a good performance today and the obvious targets for her now are the Nassau and the Prix de l'Opera.

"There's nothing for her at Ascot unless we came back to a mile for the Windsor Forest and that probably wouldn't be the most sensible thing to do.

"It's all about the second half of the season for her now and we'll try to find something along the way."

David Barron's Pearl Secret maintained his unbeaten record in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Sprint Conditions Stakes.

In making it three from three with the minimum of fuss under Jamie Spencer, the 5-6 favourite now looks set for a step up in class.

"He's quite nice isn't he?" said Barron.

"They didn't go terribly quick early on which meant he was actually taking ground off them while they were quickening and that's pretty impressive.

"He was a fairly free horse when he came to us and Jamie has done a great job getting him to settle. I don't know where we'll go next, he's just learning his job."

Ron Harris has long been seen as a master trainer of sprinters and advertised his talents once again by saddling the first two home in the Betfred Mobile Sports Stakes.

Judge 'N Jury (10-1) finished a neck to the good of stablemate Silent Witness, whose performance in defeat was all the more meritorious as he had won on the Knavesmire just 24 hours earlier.

Young 7lb claimer Darren Egan was in the saddle.

"The winner had a terrible season last season. He had a problem with his palate and only had 30% airway, but he still ran a couple of good races including in this last year," said Harris.

"We got him operated on and then he got infected so we just couldn't get him right.

"We had to stop in the end but we've had no interruptions so far this season and his run at Goodwood has just put him right for today.

"The second horse is a star, how tough must he be to do that?"

The William Haggas-trained Fury finally got his head in front in the Betfred Hambleton Stakes after running well in a number of major mile handicaps this season.

Cambridgeshire winner Prince Of Johanne made him pull out the stops and the winner needed all Ryan Moore's strength to prevail by a head.

"He's been running consistently well in really big handicaps so to win today is richly deserved," said Haggas.

"I don't want to run him in the Hunt Cup so I think we'll go for a Group race somewhere.

"He could go for something at Chantilly the Sunday before Royal Ascot."

Funk Soul Brother (8-1) looked a nice type when winning the traditionally-strong Stratford Place Stud For International Group 1 Winners EBF Maiden Stakes on debut for Charlie and Michael Hills.

A son of Guineas winner Cockney Rebel, he is owned and bred by Phil Cunningham, who also part-owns Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Cinders And Ashes.

Cunningham said: "Anyone that has ever had anything to do with him has always said he was a super horse, so it was lovely for him to go and do it on the track.

"When you breed them yourself you have to wait a couple of years for them to run so it's a fantastic day.

"All being well he'll go for the Coventry now, Charlie said he's always shown plenty."

Reg Hollinshead's Cloudy Spirit (13-2) continued her progression by denying Dark Ranger back-to-back wins in the Investec Specialist Bank Stakes under Tony Culhane.

Owner/breeder Norma Harris' husband Geoff said: "She's an absolutely super mare.

"We didn't think we'd beat Cape Tribulation today to be honest but she's very tough.

"She'll be entered for the Ascot Stakes and the Queen Alexandra and she could go for one of those if she gets in."

Read Next