Latest news with #yorkracecourse
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
Leader Live
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Scenic outlook to Bronte Cup sets up Group One assignments
The Ed Walker-trained five-year-old won the Listed Galtres Stakes at the Ebor meeting last season and started this term on a good note when second at Goodwood at the same level. Stepping up to a mile and six furlongs on her return to York in Group Three company, the bay held off all challengers, including the 6-5 favourite Term Of Endearment, to prevail by a head at 7-2 under Saffie Osborne. Scenic chins Terms Of Endearment in the Bronte Cup @yorkracecourse | @edwalkerracing | @OsborneSaffie | 👇🏻 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 31, 2025 'She's a legend, she was awesome here in August and David (Ward, owner) very sportingly kept her in training,' said Walker, who has his string in tremendous form at the moment. 'She's just a really lovely, game horse and it's a big result. We've always had this race in mind and then we just snuck in the race at Goodwood first, the ground was right and we thought it might bring her forward. 'We couldn't get on grass much this spring, so there's improvement in her still.' On future plans, Walker said: 'We'll probably come back for the Yorkshire Oaks, she's loves it here and we've absolutely nothing to lose. 'We'll have a crack and then the Prix de Royallieu at the end of the year will be the big shot for her.'
