3 minute read

With good weather and a good fast track course records were falling on Friday at York.

Firstly in the Lonsdale Cup when Frankie Dettori cooly brought Stradivarius past the field to judge the finish to perfection and set another new record for the 3300m.  It was a very classy performance to continue Stradi's domination of the stayers' races.  Dee Ex Bee led in the early stages but lacked the winner's finish to do no better than second.

Threat was too good for them in the Gimcrack winning by 1¼ lengths from Lord of the Lodge 16/1 and Repartee 11/2.

The Nunthorpe saw Battaash at his speediest best set another new course record in a total annihilation of the opposition in the Nunthorpe.  Soldier's Call 20/1 was 3 ¾ lengths away second and So Perfect 25/1 a further length third much better than his more fancied stable mate.

At the Curragh Alpine Star proved the Galway win was no fluke as she took out the Debutante from Petite Mustique 9/1 and Soul Search.

Armory had no problems winning the Futurity by ¾ length from Rebel Tale 50/1with Geometrical 14/1 third for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning, Roman Turbo 4th.  Lope Y Fernandez was scratched when found to be off his feed.

Very sad news coming out of Cambridge Stud in New Zealand where Roaring Lion suffered a further bout of Colic and has been euthanised.  He recently underwent two operations for colic and had a part of his intestines removed bit this third bout caused his connections to decide that he should not have to undertake any more surgery.  This is really sad for all those looking after him as being a true fighter he had bounced back from the two earlier surgeries and had returned home from hospital but this was not possible this time.