Go Local Stores Minster Stakes |
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| Group 2, York 15:30 £165,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Elmonjed 8/1
2
Kind Of Blue 4/1J
3
Regional 28/1
13 ran Distances: 1l, ¾l, nk
Time: 1m 11.88s (slow by 1.68s)
Elmonjed wins the G2 Go Local Stores Minster Stakes! pic.twitter.com/L5XGC1PDZF
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 13, 2026
Elmonjed confirmed himself a sprinter on the rise with a commanding victory.
Successful in three of his previous four starts on the Knavesmire, including a Listed win at the track in September, William Haggas’ five-year-old was sent off at 8-1 under William Buick on just his second start of the season after a comeback run at Newmarket last month.
Buick was content to track the pace on the far side before angling Elmonjed into position to challenge. The response was immediate as he swept past the returning Group One winner Kind Of Blue before powering a length clear of James Fanshawe’s 4-1 joint-favourite in a career-best performance.
The race Elmonjed won at York last September was the contest in which Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan suffered serious injuries that continue to keep both riders sidelined.
Haggas said: “He really loves this track and I think the draw helped today.
“He’s a really tough horse. He progressed through handicaps and won the Listed race here in September. We kept him in training for this because we thought we may as well have a go at a Group Two.”
Almeraq, Crowley’s mount in the September race, remains in training with Haggas and the trainer added: “Almeraq is fine, he worked this morning, he’s sound and I’m happy with him. He’s pencilled in to run next weekend either at Salisbury or in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, although he could do with a bit of rain.
“He’ll need his first run. He was a bit shaken up after the fall, but obviously not as badly as Jim and Trevor.”
Discussing future plans for Elmonjed, Haggas said: “He’s in the Wokingham but I don’t suppose he’ll run in it.
“I didn’t enter him in the Jubilee at Ascot, so I suppose we’ll look at the Prix Maurice de Gheest. A fast, flat track is what he likes and he needs to go for a Group One now.
“Whether we look at the July Cup we’ll see, but the Nunthorpe would be too sharp for him. Maybe something like the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.”
Fanshawe said of Kind Of Blue: “I’m very happy with that for his first run back and we’ve had a much clearer preparation with him this spring.
“Last year was really messy, but he’s behaved himself today and ran a very good race apart from not winning.
“He’ll definitely head to Ascot now, all being well.”
Another Group One winner, Regional, finished third for Ed Bethell, who said: “We’re delighted with him and he’ll head straight to Ascot now for the six-furlong race on the Saturday.”
Go Local Stores Minster Stakes (Group 2)
£165,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
