Sir Busker chins Dubai Honour in York Stakes thriller

William Knight’s Sir Busker, so often the bridesmaid in big races, gained his biggest success to date when edging out the Champion Stakes runner-up Dubai Honour in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

The six-year-old was running over 10 furlongs for the first time having spent the best part of his career chasing home the likes of Palace Pier and Baaeed in Group Ones over a mile.

He has had the occasional big day in the sun, like when winning the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in 2020 but given that was behind closed doors, none of his Kennet Valley Thoroughbred members who own him were able to cheer him home.

There were plenty on the Kanvesmire, though, but as he became embroiled in a battle with William Haggas’ classy Dubai Honour, having his first run since the Dubai Carnival, it looked like once more Sir Busker may have to settle for second best.

However, he dug deep for Ben Curtis, getting the verdict by a nose.

And now he has proved his stamina over the longer trip, he has opened up a whole new avenue, probably starting with a return to York for the prestigious Juddmonte International, for which Betfair and Paddy Power cut him to 50-1 from 100s.

“I’m very proud and just so pleased for the horse,” said Knight of the 15-2 winner.

“He’s deserved that, he’s run some massive races over the last couple of years and it’s so nice to get his head in front in a big one.

“He’s obviously loved the step up to a mile and a quarter – we probably should have done it earlier!

“I thought it was a competitive race, but I thought we looked a big price this morning if the step up in trip worked.

“We put him in the Juddmonte thinking if he won today it would look silly if we weren’t in it. It’s such good prize money and it will have to be seriously considered. He’s picked up a lot of money for coming placed in his career.”

Gale Force Maya continued her progression when defying a big weight in the Sky Bet Dash at York.

The Michael Dods-trained mare may be six but she is clearly still progressing as, having chased home the classy Flotus in a Group Three at the track last time out – gaining valuable black type in the process – she won the £65,000 prize off a handicap mark of 104.

Her goose looked cooked two furlongs out with Connor Beasley hard at work while several of his rivals were still on the bridle.

However, one thing Gale Force Maya does above everything else is try her heart out and as soon as she got to the front, it was going to take a big effort from one of her rivals to deny her an 11th career victory.

Dods will now try to win a Listed race with her.

“She loves her own space but I was debating whether we were running her back a bit quick as we only ran her two weeks ago,” said Dods.

“We’ve done very little with her this week. With it being so hot on Monday and Tuesday, we’ve just left her alone.

“I think that will probably be it for handicaps now, she’ll be out of them and we’ll go back up into Listeds – there’s one at Pontefract for her (Flying Fillies’ Stakes on August 14).

“They went very quick early and I thought she was in trouble two and a half out. He just managed to find her a bit of room and when he asked her, she came good.

“When she hits the front she doesn’t want to be passed and she loves it here.

“This was going to be her last year but if she keeps running like this she might run for another year.”

Jonathan England described it as a “privilege” to ride Birkenhead to victory in the Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap at York.

National Hunt luminaries such as Tom Scudamore, twice a previous winner, Aidan Coleman and Sam Twiston-Davies were all taking part but it was the lesser-known England, who rides principally for his wife, Sam, based at Guiseley near Leeds, who came out on top.

Riding one of five runners in the race for Paul Midgley, England drove Birkenhead to prominence with a furlong to run and the 25-1 chance held off stablemate Leodis Dream to win by a neck with the same distance back to La Roca Del Fuego.

England was too busy in the saddle for the stewards, though, and he was given a seven-day ban for overuse of his whip.

“That was very enjoyable. I rode in it last year for Paul but didn’t have much luck (last of 10),” said England.

“That lad today, I thought he had a good chance and it turned out he did, he won that very easy.

“It’s good fun beforehand and when we all get down to the start no one really knows what they are doing.

“It’s just nice to be a part of this at York, it’s a privilege to have a winner here.”

Midgley said: “Coming into the race I was leaning towards Leodis, shortly followed by Indian (Sounds, eighth) with the other three holding bits of chances.

“I always like to have runners in this, it’s a great race for the jumping boys as they get to go really fast for a short period of time.

“Everybody wants to ride at York but not everyone is lucky enough to do it.”