3 minute read
Son of Dutch Art impresses with Duke Of York Stakes victory
The Ed Walker-trained Starman (4 c ex Northern Star by Montjeu) announced himself as a big contender for some of the season’s big sprint prizes when he landed the Duke Of York Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York on Wednesday and in doing so handed Cheveley Park-based sire Dutch Art (Medicean) with his 15th Group level winner.
A winner of three of his starts last season, headed by a victory in the Garrowby Stakes (Listed, 6f) over the same course and distance as Wednesday’s race, the Ed Walker-trained four-year-old showed a potent turn of foot to beat Nahaarr (Dark Angel) by a neck. Last year’s July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) winner Oxted (Mayson) was another three and a quarter lengths away in third.
Walker - who was celebrating his first Group 2 winner in Britain - said the four-year-old would now head towards the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot next month.
"The owners are emotional and so they should be," said Walker. "They've bred him from the first horse they ever owned. He's some beast he really is, that was a mind blowing performance.
"I was surprised by the performance if I'm honest. A friend rang me on the way here and I said I didn't think he'd win but this would put him spot on for Ascot. Shows what I know.
"Oisin [Murphy, jockey] was pretty speechless afterwards, we're all really excited. He'll be heading to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot next."
Oisin Murphy said: "I'm delighted for his owners as they're magnificent supporters of the yard. He's a really top-class horse and he's done nothing but improve. Ed's done a superb job.
"I think he could be a force in the sprint division this year. He should step up from this run, he's a big, burly horse who carries a lot of condition. You certainly wouldn't swap him for a lot at the moment."
Bred and raced by David Ward, the two-year-old colt is out of the winning Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) mare Northern Star, whose other winner is stakes-placed Sunday Star (Kodiac).
Northern Star is a daughter of Slow Sand (Dixieland Band), making her a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) and Listed-placed Dorothy B (Fastnet Rock).
Slow Sand herself is a out of Slow Down (Seattle Slew) - the dam of Group / Grade 3-winning pair Slow Pace (Distorted Humor) and Funny Duck (Distorted Humor).
Dutch Art’s progeny is headed by three Group 1 winners; Mabs Cross, Garswood and Slade Power and he stood at Cheveley Park in Newmarket for a private fee in 2021.
There's a Starman waiting on the Knavesmire
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 12, 2021
Five races
Four wins
G2 Duke Of York Stakes
Listed Garrowby Stakes
Exciting
Starman makes a winning reappearance for @edwalkerracing & @oismurphy at @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/Dt3JecyYbo
