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Jakajaro’s York weekend bid in the balance
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Mon 6 Jul 2026
Robert Cowell is weather watching ahead of stable star Jakajaro’s anticipated return to action following his brilliant performance at Royal Ascot.
The five-year-old looked a picture when winning a valuable handicap by two and a quarter lengths during York’s Dante meeting, which saw him subsequently step up to Group company.
He came fourth in the Temple Stakes at Haydock nine days later before finishing fifth in the King Charles III Stakes at the Royal meeting, justifying Cowell’s faith as he was within one and half lengths of both winners.
A return to the Knavesmire in Saturday’s Listed City Walls is in the pipeline for Jakajaro, however, due to the hot weather forecast, he could forego the trip to North Yorkshire and head across the Irish Sea for the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on July 18 if the ground is too fast.
“He’s in great form, we’ve filled his tanks after his last run and he’s raring to go,” Cowell said.
“He did a bit of work on Saturday and that will run nicely into this coming Saturday, so he will be fresh and firing to go.
“He’s getting closer and closer, and he’s getting faster and faster with a bit of experience and age, and five furlongs seems to be his gig now.
“York is very much on the agenda, but we are a bit 50-50 to go because I think he’d prefer to have a little bit of cut in the ground.
“So we aren’t certain to show up, but I’ll have a chat with the owners (Fitri and Jim Hay) and racing manager Alex Cole and I’m sure we’ll make a decision.
“The Sapphire Stakes is an option for him. We are conscious we don’t want to run him on fast ground too often because he’s very game and he tries hard, but it’s probably not ideal.
“I think he just prefers good ground on the easier side, so we will see what York looks like in the middle of the week and make a decision, if not, the Sapphire Stakes is another option.
“I’m not holding my breath for York, unfortunately, but we will see how much watering they do. We aren’t saying no to it, which is why we obviously entered, but if we run we will be hopeful.”
Wherever the son of Too Darn Hot heads next, Cowell is excited for the remainder of the campaign.
“I think being patient is the right thing to do, but I’m sure he’s up to Group class without a shadow of a doubt,” he said.
“We are looking forward to the mid-season and end of the season, and one race that really does tick a box for him would be the Prix de l’Abbaye – that’s a real sharp five furlongs which I think he’d love and tends to come with a bit of cut in the ground.
“He’s obviously going to be in the King George (Goodwood), he’s in the Nunthorpe – he loves York. There’s some exciting times to be had with him.”
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