Ask Takes Yorkshire Cup

Ask provided Sir Michael Stoute with his second success in the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup as the 2-1 favourite landed a significant blow for punters on the final afternoon of York's three-day May meeting.

Seventeen years on from Rock Hopper's victory, Stoute struck again in the Group Two stayers' event as Ryan Moore forged clear in the murky conditions to strike by six lengths.

The six-year-old's win initiated what could be a momentous double for owner Pat Fahey, whose Soul City is due to take in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh next weekend.

Ask, who proved good enough to finish sixth behind Zarkava in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was a warm order for his seasonal bow, and duly obliged with a race-winning move passing the three-furlong marker.

Smart hurdler Blue Bajan coped with the soft conditions better than his form would suggest to finish second at 33-1, with Godolphin's Veracity just a head adrift in third.

Fahey said: "I thought the ground was going to be too soft for him, to be honest, and I didn't have the confidence to back him - he always wins when I don't back him.

"He likes cut in the ground but he doesn't like it that soft.

"Ryan said he got there too early, but he did put the race to bed and got tired towards the finish.

"We'll look at the Coronation Cup at Epsom next as I think a mile and a half suits, with the turn of foot he showed today.

"The Irish St Leger is his main target for this year, and he'll then go back for the Arc again, which will be the last race of his career."

Reflecting on when Ask finished last on his subsequent start at Newbury following the Arc, Fahey added: "In retrospect, we shouldn't have ran him again after the Arc as he had a tough old race.

"He was only beaten about three and a half lengths by that very good filly (Zarkava), and we should have called it a day for the season after that."

William Hill trimmed Ask into 5-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, but Fahey all but ruled out the race.

Moore added: "He's probably got too much speed for two and a half miles.

"He almost travelled too well. We've always known he was a good horse, he just needs a little help with the ground.

"He quickened well three furlongs out, and put the race to bed quickly.

"This is probably his optimum trip. He is at his prime at a mile and a half, but this little bit of extra distance helped him."

Blue Bajan was last seen finishing fourth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, and delighted trainer Andy Turnell on his first Flat outing since the summer of 2007.

He said: "I was bit worried about the ground, but he's run a very good race and I was surprised he was 33-1.

"He likes faster ground but he's been on the go since September so I'll put him out to grass now and bring him back for the long-distance handicaps at the end of the season."

A trip to the Royal meeting is on the cards for Veracity, with trainer Saeed bin Suroor saying: "He wants two miles, or two and a half miles, and the Gold Cup is an option."