Following triumphs in the Group 2 Buckingham Palace Stakes and Summer Mile Stakes, Never So Brave claimed a Group 1 debut in the City Of York Stakes for Oisin Murphy; King Of Cities gave Sheikh Mohammed Obaid a 1-2 double in the Strensall Stakes.
Pictured: Never So Brave (centre) wins Group 1 gold
Never So Brave showed class in a tight Sky Bet City of York Stakes, with favourite Rosallion finishing a distant fourth.
Transferred to Andrew Balding following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute, the four-year-old, who finished second on his debut at Chester, showed dominance at Royal Ascot in June and won the Group Two Summer Mile at the Berkshire racecourse last month.
He was priced at 7-2 to complete a hat-trick in a race that reached Group One status for the first time, while Richard Hannon's Rosallion was similarly priced after impressive wins in the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes.
After Khaanoult's quick start the two leaders were given a chance to settle in before the final push and it was Never So Brave who surged ahead under Oisin Murphy inside the final furlong.
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Rosallion tried to close the gap, and Maracoa Charlie and Lake Forest, who arrived later, were in good positions. However, Never So Brave beat the latter by half a length, leaving Maracoa Charlie and Rosallion in third and fourth.
Trainer Kingsclere previously won the £170,000 prize race with Coltrane in 2020 and a year later with Valley Forge, and has now achieved repeat success.
Tarriance, winner of two of his previous four starts, came into the race at 5-1 and was well on his way to the finish under the control of Colin Keane.
After a quick run down the straight, Tarriance picked up speed in the final furlong and, with Jim Boyle's Many Men (9-2), they pulled clear of their rivals, crossing the line at almost the same time. The judges confirmed Balding's victory by the narrowest of margins.
Pictured: Tarrians (left) lifts the trophies in a thrilling final
Keane commented: “I was doubtful about the win when I crossed the line. Oisin's horse (Murphy on Many Men) could have helped but our horse quickened up and stayed on well.”
“He is improving with every start and the increase in distance has been good for him.
“He is a tough fighter with ambitions – he is definitely capable of more. I am sure that new achievements await him in the future.”
Juddmonte's Barry Mahon added: “Hopefully he'll show his stuff in bigger competitions next season.”
Sourse: skysports.com
