Space Blues bounces back to form with slick performance in City of York

York is keen to have the Sky Bet City of York Stakes promoted to Group 1 status and the victory of genuine top-level colt Space Blues will do its cause no harm.

The Godolphin five-year-old won the Prix Maurice de Gheest last season and confirmed the promise of his close fourth in last month's Lennox Stakes by landing this £200,000 Group 2 contest by a length and a half under William Buick.

"It was a good performance and in many ways it was what we wanted to see from him," the jockey said.

"He ran so well in the Lennox at Goodwood on very soft ground and the race didn't work out how we hoped it would. He was always going to come on for it and it was lovely to see him back like that.

"A stiff six on good or softer ground might suit him but if you go through his form it's over six and a half or seven. He could be a horse for the Foret on Arc weekend or something like that."

The real deal

Two potential future stars combined to land the opening Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes and tee up a Godolphin double.

Up-and-coming jockey Marco Ghiani has struck up quite a partnership with Real World and they won the Royal Hunt Cup and a Listed race at Newbury together in early summer.

And the pair made it three from three on this step up to Group 3 company, scoring by a ready length and a half from Danny Tudhope on Lord Glitters.

Real World and Marco Ghiani complete a hat trickCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor is sweet on horse and jockey and said: "Real World won well. He's an improving horse. He's always looked class in the morning, the way he trains and the way he works. He ran a huge race today."

The four-year-old is quoted at 8-1 (from 10-1) for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by Paddy Power and the trainer said: "The final race for him this season could be the QEII, but we may take him to Newmarket or France first. He's a nice horse but he needs to improve more. With more age, he'll be even better."

The same may apply to Ghiani, of whom the trainer said: "The jockey was keen to ride him and I'm very happy with him. He's young but he looks like he's going to be one of the best jockeys in the future.

Valley Forge scores for Strawbridge

Andrew Balding struck for one of his stable's longest-serving patrons when George Strawbridge's Valley Forge took the Sky Bet Melrose Stakes under David Probert

"It's so nice having winners for George Strawbridge," said the trainer's wife Anna Lisa. "He's such a big supporter of the yard – when Andrew's father trained at Kingsclere as well. It's a shame he's in America today.

"I think this is a really exciting horse. He's good looking, and as I've just been reminded, if you win this you're in the Ebor next year."

Valley Forge (David Probert) scores for George StrawbridgeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Party time for Parkin

Saturday night was all right for celebrating for Steve Parkin, who sponsored the mile handicap here on Thursday and was on the other end of the trophy presentation when Attagirl won the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes in his colours,.

"That makes the week," he said. "You can't beat a winner at York.

"I've not had a drink all week. I've been sponsoring and I've had guests here, I've had to stay compos mentis. But we've got a big party tonight so we'll celebrate then!"

Replays, results and analysis

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