Group Two York Stakes Guide 2022

A well versed 6 year old for William Knight, Sir Busker started his career with an average juvenile season where he only managed to win once in five outings.

A season in handicaps followed which saw him gain some success at a low level before really making his mark in the handicap ranks when winning the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 2020. The raise in the weights saw him unable to stay competitive in handicaps and not quite good enough to make a mark in group races.

Last season saw much of the same. Listed and group level seemed too taxing of his abilities and a mark of over 110 made handicapping near impossible. This season he’s been kept at a relatively high level but has failed to really get involved.

He tries a longer trip here for the first time and it will need to draw out some improvement for him to win his first group race.

After spending his first two seasons at a low level, winning maidens and novice events before finding success in handicap company, being gelded help Dubai Future come on plenty.

A spell over in Meydan saw him pick up a listed handicap win over 14 furlongs. Dropped slightly in trip off the back of that he struggled in deeper waters and couldn’t score at group level.

Another spell in Meydan this year saw him easily pick up listed honours again before finding group racing too taxing. Returning to the UK didn’t immediately show improvement either as he was well beaten in the Brigadier Gerard before an impressive win at Royal Ascot last month.

Scoring smartly in the Wolverton Stakes over 10 furlongs, he certainly shaped like he was ready for another try at group level but he’s failed to really put his best forward at this level before.

Despite a relatively quiet 2 year old season which saw Dubai Honour only win once at a low level before struggling to really make his presence felt in a handicap.

Gelded before returning to the track as a 3 year old, he found success moving up in trip to 10 furlongs in handicap company. With that win in the books he was sent over to France where he gained two group 2 victories smartly.

A valiant 2nd and 4th in group 1 company rounded out the year, with him looking just slightly below the level needed. Last seen over in Meydan, he looked out of his comfort zone over a longer trip and at the top level. Moving down in trip and grade here should help but he needs to leave that poor run in Meydan well behind.

Kevin Ryan’s 3 year old only managed to score once last season as a juvenile when winning a maiden. He ran well in defeat in his subsequent outings before returning in smart form as a 3 year old.

A blistering win in a conditions race over a mile seemed to be good preparation for a strong season but he’s so far failed to really kick on from that win. Tried in higher grades, he has contested listed and group races but hasn’t managed to make any inroads. Runs over a mile, 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs have failed to really identify an optimum trip but his best effort arguably was in the Dante Stakes at this trip.

He will need to show a lot more to really have any kind of say at this level.

A lightly raced 3 year old for Jane Chapple-Hyam, Claymore has been rapidly improving this season and looks more than ready to make the step up into group 2 company here.

An impressive solo juvenile run saw Claymore make a lasting impression over 7 furlongs to win with bundles in hand easily at Newmarket. Returning to racing this year as a 3 year old he ran well in defeat in his first outing in the Craven Stakes behind Native Trail before a poor showing in the French 2000 Guineas.

After shaping far too keen over in France, moving up in trip last time out helped the son of New Bay recapture his form and he smartly scored at Royal Ascot to win the Hampton Court Stakes. Easily getting the better of odds on favourite Reach For The Moon.

Off the back of that impressive effort, he looks the one to beat here on paper.