York Racecourse

Kirklees set for return to group company in Sky Bet York Stakes

KIRKLEES is poised to follow up an impressive victory in Listed company with a shot at the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes this Saturday.

The Godolphin-trained five-year-old ran out a four-length winner of the Gala Stakes at Sandown earlier in the month.

Now he is set to return to Group company over the same 1m 2f trip in the £100,000 feature on the Knavesmire this weekend and heads the market with sponsors Sky Bet at 3/1

Kirklees, who won a Group 1 in Italy as a two-year-old, was joined by stable-mate Trincot among a choice 21-strong entry for the lucrative race at today’s five-day stage.

His trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who landed the contest with Stage Gift in 2007, said: “Kirklees won well last time and came out of the race very well. This is a better race but I am very happy with him and he is in good form. Good ground would be ideal for him.

“Trincot needs softer and is a possibility. But we will just see what happens with the ground as we’ve got other options for him.”

Monitor Closely is another horse likely to be pitched back into Group 2 action in the Sky Bet York Stakes. The Oasis Dream colt has this season run a series of creditable races, not least when he finished fourth at York in the totesport.com Dante Stakes.

Offered at 9/1 with Sky Bet he heads to York after a further game performance to be third in the Listed Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Now trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam’s charge is all set to be stepped back up in class – and take on his elders for the first time.

Chapple-Hyam said: “The plan at the moment is for Monitor Closely to contest the Sky Bet York Stakes. I’m sure it will be a hot race but he deserves to win a nice prize at some point.

“He has done nothing but improve and always seems to give a good account of himself. He worked this morning and went well and I am very happy with him.

“York suits him as he showed when only beaten two lengths into fourth in the Dante and the only thing that would stop us from running there this Saturday would be if the ground were to come up soft.”

Kings Gambit is an intriguing entry. He has previously raced only in South Africa – where he won two Grade 1s – and Dubai, last competing back in March in the Dubai Sheema Classic for trainer Herman Brown

The five-year-old is now trained in Yorkshire by Tom Tate who said: “Kings Gambit is a South African Derby winner and is in good form. He has been with us since he left quarantine from Dubai and has been prepared for a late summer, autumn campaign.”

Newmarket-based John Gosden won the Sky Bet York Stakes last year with Pipedreamer and for the 2009 renewal has Tazeez primed.

For full details of the betting for the Sky Bet York Stakes and £50,000 Sky Bet Dash as well as the full Saturday card at York  then visit www.skybet.com

Sky Bet York Stakes :Current betting: 3/1 Kirklees, 5/1 Perfect Stride, 6/1 Stotsfold, 7/1 Tazeez, 8/1 Curtain Call, 9/1 Monitor Closely, 201/ Kings Gambit

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