Horses are coming - Music Showcase Weekend

MEEHAN EYES LYRIC OPPORTUNITY AT YORK

23rd July

Brian Meehan is hoping Miss Justice can further enhance her future breeding credentials in tomorrow’s Listed British EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York Racecourse. The five-year-old mare already has a black-type victory to her name, courtesy of her 2025 success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury. Now the daughter of Justify is aimed at another Listed prize, taking on a select field over the extended mile and a quarter on the Knavesmire.

Miss Justice comes into the £70,000 race on the back of two solid pieces of form. She finished fourth of 12 in Listed company in Chantilly in June and filled the same position in a nine-runner Group 2 contest at Newmarket earlier this month.

Those races were staged over a mile and a half, but Meehan has no concerns about Miss Justice dropping back in distance for her latest assignment.

The Manton-based trainer said: “She’s been very consistent all year. She’s run some very good races, apart from the Dahlia.

“The trip on Friday night is pretty much the distance she won her stakes race over. So, we’re happy to come back in trip.

“She’s got a lot of tactical speed over a mile and a half, so I’m confident that a mile and a quarter would be very comfortable for her.

“It’s just a good opportunity for her. She’s in great form.”

Diamond Rain looks likely to be an odds-on favourite for the six-runner race. The Godolphin mare was placed twice in Grade 1 company in North America last year and was just edged out by a short head in a Group 3 at Newcastle a month ago.

Group 2 winner Qilin Queen runs for trainer Ed Walker’s powerful Lambourn yard and On Message and Estissa represent the Classic generation.

Four-year-old Regal Charm is upped in grade after scoring in handicap company at Salisbury last time out.

Friday’s card comprises six races, the first of which is set for 5.32. After the racecourse action, attention will switch to the big stage with renowned star Craig David bringing his TS5 party.

York’s Music Showcase Weekend continues on Saturday headed by the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes.

Tom Grennan, the English singer-songwriter, follows after seven afternoon races on Saturday.

Both days of racing are part of the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival.

DAMYSUS BOUND FOR £165,000 YORK G2 FEATURE

21st July

Damysus is eased in grade and raised in distance for a shot at the richest ever renewal of the Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire this Saturday.

Wathnan Racing’s son of Frankel came fifth of nine over the straight mile at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. Previously, he’d also finished in mid-division in top-class company in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Now the four-year-old returns to an extended mile and a quarter for the £165,000 Group 2 at York.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt ran at the course over the same distance when finishing second of 11 in the 2025 renewal of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes. The winner that day, Pride of Arras, could again be in opposition.

Racing advisor to his Owners, Wathan, Richard Brown said: “He showed a lot of zip when he won the Earl of Sefton (over nine furlongs at Newmarket) and so we’ve had a crack at a mile.

“And he hasn’t got the zip of those top milers, so we’re finally back to a mile and a quarter. I think that’s where his future lies.

“He’s still lightly raced and I think York will suit him. He’s already run well there in the Dante and it looks a very good race on paper, as you’d expect for the grade and the prize money.

“John and Thady seem very happy with him. The quicker the ground, the better.”

Damysus also holds an entry for the £1.5million Juddmonte International, which will be staged at York on Wednesday 19 August.

But Brown added: “Reading reports it looks like that’s going to be a clash between Constitution River and Ombudsman. We’ve got to be realistic – Damysus is a very nice colt, but we’re quite a long way off that.”

York’s latest two-day meeting is part of the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival.

The fixture begins on Friday evening when the British EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes is the highlight.

Eleven fillies and mares have been entered in the extended mile and a quarter Listed contest.

Saturday’s seven-race card starts at 1.30pm with the Sky Bet ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap.