'A classy little horse' - find out who fancies landing another big sales pot

Thursday: 2.25 YorkGoffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes | 6f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

This race will long be remembered for the 2019 running when Mums Tipple scorched up the Knavesmire to win by 11 lengths. The Richard Hannon-trained juvenile achieved a Racing Post Rating of 115 that day, 13lb higher than the ten-year average for the race, but it now looks like a fluke.

This race is starting to develop a bit of a reputation and is often won by a wide margin, but rarely by a top-class horse. Even if you take away Mums Tipple's 11 lengths, the average winning distance in the other nine races in the last ten years is 1.4 lengths, yet just 2015 winner Tasleet and last season's heroine Happy Romance went on to land a Group race.

Furthermore, three of the last ten winners never won again and that is quite staggering for a juvenile race that has a guaranteed prize fund of £200,000. So what can we glean from that?

It all points to the race being won by an early bloomer and eight of the last ten winners had run at least four times. Experience has been key and that’s no surprise given the big field.

There is a full complement of 22 declared this year, but two of the top four in the market have had fewer than four runs. System has run only three times, but her trainer Richard Hannon knows what it takes, having won four of the last five runnings, including with two fillies – Stormy Clouds in 2016 and Happy Romance last year.

Wings Of War has had only two starts but represents Clive Cox, who is due a change of luck. Two of his four runners in this race in the last ten years were placed at odds of 20-1 and 33-1, including one who was once raced. Maybe this year the trends will be bucked.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

System heads four-strong attack for Hannon

Richard Hannon-trained runners in this valuable sales race have accrued just short of £600,000 since he took over the licence in 2014, and top-rated System has excellent claims of landing the winner's prize for a fifth time in six renewals for the stable.

This two-year-old contest is open to those that were catalogued in the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sales last year and System, a Listed winner at Newmarket in June, sets the standard after finishing fifth in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes at Ascot last time. Pat Dobbs rides the well-fancied filly, one of four runners for Hannon.

Mums Tipple: won this race by 11 lengths in 2019Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Rossa Ryan is aboard the Amo Racing-owned Symphony Perfect, who has the benefit of six runs under her belt – headlined by a half-length second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury – while Ryan Moore partners well-regarded maiden Oh Herberts Reign. Outsider Three Dons, the mount of David Egan, completes the team.

On his prize-money accrued, Hannon said: "That's not bad is it! Dad trained the runner-up four years in a row and we've done well in recent years. It's a sale we do well at."

He added: "System had a bit of a break since her last run and Pat was very happy with her when he rode her the other day. She should go well.

"Symphony Perfect ran very well in the Super Sprint and thrives in this environment. Oh Herberts Reign is a classy little horse – he's a horse for next year but is capable of running very well and looks good value. Three Dons will have to step up to be in the mix."

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Korker
He's in great form and his brothers that we trained stayed six furlongs and further, which gives me hope he'll stay. I'm hoping he can put up a big show.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Mojomaker
I'd like to think he'll go well. He has Listed-placed form and ran well on soft ground that went against him at Goodwood. Six furlongs at York will suit him down to the ground.

Mojomaker: second to Fearby in a Listed race at Sandown on his penultimate startCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Clive Cox, trainer of Wings Of War
He was very impressive at Nottingham last time, where he was really professional and enjoyed the quick ground. This race was a nice target to aim at and he should have a realistic chance.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Atomic Lady
She's a very good filly and I hope she has a great chance. It's a nice prize to go for and she has lots of ability.

Thursday's race previews:

1.50 York: 'Very special' Sandrine is the one to beat in Lowther reckons David Probert

3.00 York: could this hot handicap provide compensation for some unlucky Goodwood losers?

3.35 York: no mistaking Snowfall as O'Brien ace bids to underline her superstar status

3.35 York: is Snowfall as good as she looks? Keith Melrose on the Yorkshire Oaks favourite (Members' Club)

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