SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: York Saturday

I’ve said it before. I’m not sure whether having a Saturday like this ‘Super Saturday’ is such a good idea. You have a two-hour period with unbelievable action coming thick and fast from York, Ascot and Newmarket and there isn’t really the proper time to digest the action. I get it that it gives opportunities for some jockeys to pick up more high-profile rides, but there are barely enough to go around.

They barely cross the line in the Summer Mile at Ascot and they are heading to post for the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. Then it’s the John Smith’s Cup, the July Cup and then the City Walls Sprint. A jockey may ride the biggest winner of his career, yet there is no time for a TV interview.

My own view is there are a number of quiet weekends that could do with a better feature race and you could easily move one of the three big meetings. Anyway, it is what it is. I’m heading to York for four nice rides…

SATURDAY

YORK

BLACK KALANISI – 2.55pm

I’m looking forward to getting back aboard Black Kalanisi (pictured below) who I won on at Goodwood last month. The going will be a bit different this time as its proper summer ground. However, he stays this trip well and has won on fast ground in the past. He’s only 2lbs higher than when successful last time and hopefully should be very competitive again. Danni California has been very consistent and looks the one to beat.

JAXTA – 3.30pm

Another who won last time was Jaxta who I have yet to sit on. He’s been gelded since winning at Ripon at the first time of asking and begins life in nurseries off a mark of 78. This looks a competitive contest though with JM Jungle and Sanks A Million two I’d fear, although you just don’t know what you are up against. I’d be hoping my fella won’t be far away though.

THE CITY’S PHANTOM – 4.05pm (John Smith’s Cup)

The big race of the day at York is the John Smith’s Cup which is a race I’ve not yet won. The City’s Phantom (pictured below, centre) isn’t a horse I’ve ridden before but looks a nice type. He won well at Yarmouth two starts back on fast ground so he should love conditions. He didn’t seem to handle Epsom all that well last time, so I’m inclined to put a line through that run. I’m hoping that the handicapper hasn’t got fully hold of him yet although I’d have rather been drawn a little bit lower. Mahrajaan travelled strongly into the race last time and will relish this drop back in trip while Rogue Bear has been knocking on the door all season.

DANCINGINTHEWOODS – 5.15pm

My final ride of the afternoon is Dancinginthewoods who has remarkably finished fourth in all of his last five starts. This is his first start for Amy Murphy since leaving Dean Ivory and hopefully the change of scenery will trigger a change in luck. He didn’t have the smoothest of passages last time and has been dropped a bit by the handicapper since. I worked up along sides him the other day and he looks in decent form. There are some seasoned handicappers in this including topweight Wentworth Falls and the two eight-year-olds Admirality and Muscika who are dangerously well handicapped.

The feature race elsewhere is the July Cup…

NEWMARKET

4.25pm (Darley July Cup)

The big Group One action of the day is the July Cup where Perfect Power (pictured below) should take the world of beating if in the same form he was in at Ascot. I obviously respect the Aussie raider Artorius as well as the two Godolphin colts Creative Force and Naval Crown, but I’d be surprised if Perfect Power doesn’t win.

Good Luck
SDS

---

STAR PROMOTIONS