26 June

HAT-TRICK SEEKER REGAL ENVOY IN ‘DASH’ ACTION AT YORK

FIELD OF EIGHT FOR AL BASTI EQUIWORLD, DUBAI CRITERION STAKES 

WILLIAM Knight is hoping late bloomer Regal Envoy can continue his progression with fresh success in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dash at York on Saturday.

The six-year-old is up to a career-high official rating of 95 after an impressive set of results in the opening months of the season.

Regal Envoy’s hot streak began at Newmarket in April when he was rated 84. Since then, he has proved himself something of a Windsor specialist, finishing second before registering back-to-back victories over five furlongs at the Berkshire racecourse.

Knight reports Regal Envoy to be in “good order” and has fingers crossed the gelding remains ahead of the handicapper for the £65,000 York assignment.

The Newmarket-based trainer said: “This will be the toughest race he’s run in this year – it’s just whether he can step up to this grade. But he seems to be in a really good place at the moment.

“Some of these sprinters can improve with age and he looks like he’s doing that. He used to get a bit stressy and I think he’s just a bit more relaxed and that helps him through his race.”

Knight hopes Regal Envoy remain unflustered through the preliminaries at York and is happy to have secured, once again, the services of Oisin Murphy. The reigning champion jockey has ridden Regal Envoy in each of his last four runs.

Knight said: “I think having Oisin on board is a big plus. He gets a really good tune out of him and they get on well with each other, so I think it’s important that he’s riding him.”

Regal Envoy is drawn five in a nine-strong field for the five-furlong contest, carrying a first prize of £33,501.

The most valuable race on the card is the £100,000 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes.

The seven-furlong Group Three is being staged on the Knavesmire for the first time.  Whoever wins on Saturday has the added bonus of the contest being a “run for free” race ahead of the £600,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, which now carries Group One status and is due to be run on Saturday 23 August, the final day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

Eight horses will line up in the feature of seven-race card this weekend, among those in action are 2023 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Gimcrack Stakes winner Lake Forest and Prague, successful at Newmarket in the Group 2 Joel Stakes last September.

24 June

ALL ROADS POINT TO YORK FOR CUNHA STABLE STAR PRAGUE

DYLAN Cunha has pencilled in for Prague to visit York Racecourse twice this summer – starting with a shot at this Saturday’s £100,000 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes.

It is the first time the Knavesmire has ever staged this Group 3 race (previously held at Newmarket) so, as part of a wider strengthening of its seven-furlong programme, it will give the winner a "run for free" entry* into the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Saturday 23 August.

The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes will also be the first time Prague has been tested at this distance.

If it proves a success, Newmarket-based Cunha will bring back his stable star for that £600,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, which is set to be staged as a Group One for the first time.

Otherwise, the trainer will target the nine-furlong Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, scheduled for the same card at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

This weekend’s fact-finding mission sees Prague back in action, having not been seen on a racecourse since British Champions Day at Ascot last October.

The five-year-old proved a real star for connections in 2024, finishing second in the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock before winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. As a result, Prague must carry 9st 13lb – 5lb more than any other horse in the 13-strong entry.

Cunha said: “He’s in great form – as well as I’ve ever seen him. He’s training really well.

“The drop to seven furlongs is just that he’s quite keen in his races – we just want to teach him to settle. We’ve been going a mile and a mile and a quarter with him, but his mother was actually a six-furlong Group 3 winner. 

“We’re thinking he might just be that keen because we might be going too far with him. So, it’s an experiment. If he runs in the first two, he’ll go to the City of York. If it’s too short, he’ll run in the Strensall. He’s definitely going to York twice in the next two months!”

Cunha had hoped to have Jim Crowley aboard Prague for his seasonal bow, but the jockey looks likely to be required elsewhere by Shadwell, who retain him. Instead, Prague will be ridden for the first time by Kieran Shoemark.

Cunha said: “Jim would have ridden him, but he’s booked for Shadwell. So, Kieran then messaged for the ride and I said, ‘Absolutely’. He rides quite a bit for us – so, a great replacement for Jim.”

The trainer enjoys visiting York where Silver Sword gave him a first high-profile success at the 2023 Ebor Festival.

And Cunha has fingers crossed Prague can put him back in the same winner’s circle on Saturday. 

He said: “He’ll jump out, go forward and he’ll be sitting in the first three or four and hopefully run a huge race for us.”

Saturday’s seven-race card starts at 1.55pm with the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Mile Handicap.