Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
Group 2, York 15:00
£250,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
6f, Class 1    
Friday 23rd August 2024

Boylesports

1 Cool Hoof Luke 8/1
2 Shadow Of Light 6/1
3 Symbol Of Strength 80/1
10 ran Distances: ¾l, hd, 1l
Time: 1m 10.78s (slow by 0.78s)

Named after World Darts champion ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries, Andrew Balding’s Cool Hoof Luke, sired by Advertise, has shown commendable performances since his debut win at Chelmsford. He finished fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and improved to third in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

With more experience, Oisin Murphy’s ride, starting at 8-1, smoothly moved into contention as the Group Two race progressed. Once in the lead, he utilized his racecourse knowledge to fend off Charlie Appleby’s previously unbeaten Shadow Of Light, while Adrian Keatley’s Symbol Of Strength, at 80-1 odds, secured third place.

Representing trainer Andrew Balding, his wife Anna Lisa commented, “He’s a big horse, a big two-year-old. It doesn’t always happen, but it happened and it’s just fantastic. You look at him and think he’ll be a better three-year-old. We weren’t sure about the trip today – he’s bred to be a sprinter, looks like a seven-furlong horse – and the trainer got it right. We were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today. Andrew will be making the decisions, but it is exciting.”

Regarding the runner-up, Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said, “We’re happy. That was his first step up into Group company, and it’s a big step up. He’s probably learned a lot, he ran his race, but he just got beaten by one better on the day. The trip is fine for him, he’ll stick at six furlongs for now. It looks good for Aomori City as he beat the winner at Goodwood, so we’ll take that. We can’t complain, it’s only his third run and first in Group company.”

Adrian Keatley, pleased with Symbol Of Strength’s performance, remarked, “I’d like to think I’ve been looking at them long enough to know when we’ve got a good one, but I was starting to doubt myself when I saw he was the outsider of the field yesterday. He’s a good horse, he’ll have no problems getting seven furlongs and maybe even a mile next year. He’s got scope and will grow a bit. We think a lot of him and the sky is the limit. He’s in the Mill Reef, and that will probably be the target, as long as the ground isn’t too soft.”

SureWIn

Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)
£250,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (8)    Cool Hoof Luke 2 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 8/1
2 (9) ¾ Shadow Of Light 2 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/1
3 (7) hd Symbol Of Strength 2 9-2 Adrian Paul Keatley Connor Beasley 80/1
4 (2) 1 Big Mojo 2 9-2 Michael Appleby Silvestre De Sousa 8/1
5 (6) 1½ Caburn 2 9-2 Jack Jones Dylan Hogan 14/1
6 (1) 1¾ Camille Pissarro 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 3/1F
7 (3) 1½ Andesite 2 9-2 K R Burke Daniel Tudhope 7/1
8 (5) ½ King's Call 2 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 33/1
9 (10) 3½ The Strikin Viking 2 9-2 Hamad Al Jehani James Doyle 7/2
10 (4) 4¼ Billboard Star 2 9-2 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 10/1

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