Yorkshire confirmed his class and resilience with a determined win in the Group Three Festival Stakes at Rosehill, only weeks after a health scare had threatened to derail his preparation.
The gelding went around favourite in The Hunter (1300m) first-up but was pulled up late and diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, prompting a cautious approach from trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
O’Shea had said throughout the week that Yorkshire was physically right again, yet he warned that the gelding might still need the run at 1500 metres.
That concern proved unfounded thanks to an assertive front-running ride from Zac Lloyd, who allowed Yorkshire to dictate terms before lifting him to victory—a performance that now propels him toward next month’s The Ingham (1600m).
“I thought one of the contributing factors with what happened to him at Newcastle, was he was unsaddled behind the gates, and he got a little upset,” O’Shea said.
“He got out of his rhythm and all those things probably contributed to what wasn’t a good day for him.
Today, we were mindful we had our T’s crossed, our I’s dotted in terms of our preparation before the race.
We were confident we’d gone through the process to get him back. I was surprised he was able to control the race like he did, but that was the key to winning.”
From the inside gate, Lloyd rolled to the front aboard Yorkshire ($2.70 fav), and he travelled smoothly before fending off the fast-finishing Arctic Glamour ($8.50), who reduced the margin to a neck. Melody Again ($31) arrived a further short neck away.
The win marked Lloyd’s third for the afternoon and his second black type win after piloting Flying For Fun in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).
His stellar day was overshadowed slightly by a careless riding suspension from his earlier victory on Lyles, though he remains free to return ahead of The Ingham.
Gerald Ryan was delighted with Arctic Glamour’s closing run, which backed up her recent Hot Danish Stakes success and sets her up for a rematch with Yorkshire in tougher company at Randwick.
“I know The Ingham is going to be harder, but we’ll have a crack at it. She is going really well,” Ryan said.
Later in the program, 2023 Australian Derby champion Major Beel broke through again, taking out the Listed ATC Cup (2000m).
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the gelding had been crying out for a rise in trip after two encouraging efforts over a mile.
“He has been quite consistent in his form, but he does need the right conditions to break through,” Bott said.
“The key is just getting out to 2000 metres today and aided by a lovely ride by Rachel (King), things fell into place nicely for him.”
Major Beel is now expected to target the Summer Cup, with runner-up Shangri La Spring likely to join him.
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