Summer Music Saturday: The Horses Are Coming

25th June

ROYAL VELVET RETURNS TO SCENE OF HER SKY BET EBOR FESTIVAL TRIUMPH

William Knight believes Royal Velvet can deliver a strong display in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare is one of six horses declared for the seven-furlong Group 3, the £100,000 highlight of Saturday’s seven-race card.

Royal Velvet failed to find top form last week at Royal Ascot where she finished down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes in handicap company.

Newmarket-based trainer Knight was left somewhat mystified by the run, given her early-season form,

Royal Velvet won a Group 3 at Lingfield in May after opening up for 2026 with victory in a competitive handicap at Newmarket.

Knight said: “We’re not quite sure why she ran as she did at Ascot. Whether it was a big field and she just had no daylight, I don’t know.

“I really thought she’d run a big race there. So, I think I’m just drawing a line through it.

“She’s come back absolutely fine. Yes, we’re backing her up pretty quickly, but she seems well at home.”

Royal Velvet is poised for a return to the Knavesmire – the scene of her seven-furlong triumph in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival last August.

This weekend’s assignment will see jockey Marco Ghiani partner her for the first time.

The combination will face the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave, the course and distance winner of last year’s Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes.

Another classy campaigner in opposition is the William Haggas-trained Saber Strike, who also lined up at Royal Ascot. Saber Strike is set to be the sole three-year-old in the race.

Knight said: “Obviously, Andrew’s is a very good horse at York and William’s horse ran in the Jersey. But if there’s an opportunity to get some ‘black type’…

“She loves York, seven furlongs I think is her right trip, so she’s got that in her favour.

“It’s a tough ask, but I wouldn’t be running her if I didn’t think she could run a big race.”

The other three horses set for action in the G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes are last season’s Sussex Stakes winner Qirat (Ralph Beckett), Balmacara (Eve Johnson Houghton) and County Kildare based challenger, Chicago Critic (Johnny Murtagh).

Summer Music Saturday will see the British singer-songwriter Becky Hill perform after racing.

25th June

NAANA’S SHADOW PRIMED FOR YORK IN THE AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DASH

Trainer Katie Scott is hoping Naana’s Shadow can follow up her Epsom Dash heroics with fresh success at York.

Nanna’s Shadow confirmed she is a speedster on the upgrade with victory by three parts of a length on Derby Day.

Now the three-year-old daughter of Havana Grey, owned by Summerstorm Bloodstock, is being aimed at another valuable sprint prize – the £65,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash.

Scott, who trains from Stables Cottage in the Scottish Borders, said: “She’s come out of Epsom really well. Everything’s been very smooth.

"It was a huge day for us. We are a small yard; we’ve only got 20 horses in training. So, just even to be going to these big meetings is amazing. Then to be coming away with a win is fantastic. It means so much to us.

“She’s still a bit to go to be the best we’ve trained because we’ve got Luna (A Inbhir Nis) in the yard – but I’d say she’ll be the fastest.”

Naana’s Shadow is drawn five in a 15-strong field and will be partnered by reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who also rode her at Epsom.

It’s the grey filly’s second appearance at York this season, having finished third behind Fortification and Stargazed in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap at the Dante Festival.

She will face both those rivals again on Saturday, but Scott is optimistic Naana’s Shadow can turn the form around.

The trainer said: “I think we have improved and she was new to the yard at that point, so we’ve got to know her better. We’ll give it our best shot anyway.”

The current going description on the Knavesmire is good to firm, good in places and there is the possibility of thundery showers in the area tomorrow.

But Naana’s Shadow’s form suggests she is versatile when it comes to underfoot conditions.

Scott said: “She won on quick ground at Catterick. To be honest, we were worried about soft ground going into Epsom and she handled it really well.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to run them to find out. And because we’ve got the same jockey on, he’ll be able to give us an idea of what she felt better on.”

The entire seven-race card on Saturday is sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld Dubai, with the action beginning at 1.20pm with two-year-old novices’ contest.

23rd June

NEVER SO BRAVE’S BID TO GET ‘BACK ON TRACK’ IN AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI CRITERION STAKES

Never So Brave is on course to return to York this Saturday for the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes.

Last August, the Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old gave a superb display to win the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes at the first staging of the later seven-furlong contest, as a Group 1.

The ground on that occasion was good to firm; a warm and dry forecast means similar going looks likely for this weekend on the Knavesmire.

What with penalties applying only for Group races landed after 31 August, Never So Brave appears to have a strong chance at the weights back at York, where reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy is poised to partner him once more.

Connections are hoping he can regain the winning thread after failing to make the frame in any of his three starts since winning the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes.

Never So Brave’s last outing came at Epsom on Derby Day when a slow start hindered his chance in the Group 3 Tattenham Corner Stakes.

The gelding, owned by Saeed Suhail, could only finish fifth of eight behind subsequent Queen Anne Stakes hero, Ten Bob Tony.

Balding said: “All being well Never So Brave will be heading back to York on Saturday. Obviously, his finest moment came as a course and distance winner at the Ebor meeting.

“Things didn’t work out for him at Epsom last time. He missed the break at the start and got too far behind.

“But we’re hoping he can get back on track on Saturday as the race looks ideal for him.”

The £100,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes has attracted several other fascinating ‘possibles’ in its 11-strong entry.

Saber Strike, beaten favourite in last Saturday’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, could make a swift reappearance under star jockey Tom Marquand.

Saber Strike’s trainer William Haggas has also entered the 2024 Group 2 Hungerford Stakes winner Tiber Flow.

Qirat, 150/1 shock winner of the 2025 Group 1 Sussex Stakes, is another high-profile name to feature in the entry.

Summer Music Saturday at York holds a seven-race card fully backed by Al Basti Equiworld Dubai including a £65,000 sprint for three-year-olds over five furlongs.

Becky Hill, who rose to fame after appearing on the first series of The Voice UK, will perform after racing.

The combination of quality racing & music is proving popular with The County Stand having already reached capacity, Grandstand & Paddock admission is still available though the advice is to advance book to avoid disappointment.