Alibi Proves Best At York

As expected Irish Derby third Best Alibi proved far too good for his four rivals in the inaugural running of the £100,000 Skybet York Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge had also run with distinction to finish sixth in the Vodafone Derby before his fine effort at the Curragh.

As a result of his high-class performances, the son of King's Best was backed down to 2-5 for the Group Two contest on the Knavesmire.

With the horse dropping back to an extended 10 furlongs, jockey Ryan Moore was keen to ensure a decent pace and he soon had the hot favourite bowling along in the lead.

He was briefly threatened by Hattan two furlongs out but quickened away in eyecatching fashion to score by a comfortable two lengths.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for the colt's owners Gainsborough Stud, said: 'He won like he should. Ryan just gave him a smack and he picked up.

'I think he was getting a bit fed up in front but once the other horse got to his quarters away he went again.

'I don't think Ryan was anxious at all.

'He was by far the best horse in there and something would have to have been wrong with him to get beaten.

'He's good over this distance and on this fast ground.

'Ryan said he just dwelt with him in the gate, he did that in the Derby as well, and he said he was a little bit keen over the first two furlongs and then he was idling a little bit towards the finish but the second horse helped him along.

'He's entered in the Juddmonte International back here (August 22) but we'll see how he comes back.'

Best Alibi suffered a cut to his near-hind foot during the early stages of the race but appeared to walk away sound.

It was a slightly disappointing turn out for the new race but clerk of the course William Derby said: 'We were delighted it produced a really good winner.

'We had a decent set of entries and whether Best Alibi scared a few off I don't know.

'It has added real quality to the heritage handicap, the Skybet Dash, and it will be repeated next year.'

The Skybet Dash itself produced an exciting finish as local trainer Richard Fahey saddled two runners in the valuable contest and came away with first and fourth as Wyatt Earp powered home under Royston Ffrench to land the #31,160 prize.

The Malton handler's other representative, Knot In Wood, was stable jockey Paul Hanagan's choice but after having every chance the 9-2 favourite just faded in the closing stages.

Desperate Dan set a furious pace in the six-furlong handicap but as he began to weaken Knot In Wood, Ice Planet and Wyatt Earp threw down their challenges and it was the latter who proved the stronger.

The 6-1 chance hit the front close home to deny Ice Planet (6-1) and the fast-finishing Blue Tomato by three-quarters of a length and a short head.

'I couldn't really separate my two. I think Knot In Wood was just feeling the ground, he just had his head in the air, but they are two nice horses and it's nice to win it with one of them,' Fahey said.

'To be fair to Paul I do like the other horse and I'm sure he'll bounce back.

'I was nearly going to run four in the race. We've got a good team of sprinters, which we were light of over the last couple of years, and I definitely wanted to win the race.'

Wyatt Earp will now go in search of another big prize, as Fahey explained: 'He's off for the Ayr Gold Cup now. That's his next run. We won't mess about we'll go straight there.

'I don't think Knot In Wood will get in but he'll be entered in it. He'll be better with softer ground.'

Kahlua Kiss romped away with the skybet.com EBF Fillies' Stakes to the delight to a large proportion of the crowd, who cheered her home.

The Willie Muir-trained three-year-old was popular with punters and was sent off the 11-4 joint-favourite for the extended-10-furlong contest.

She did not let her backers down with a smooth performance under Robert Winston, who can have enjoyed few easier winners.

The rapidly-improving filly cruised into contention early in the straight and when Winston let out an inch of rein approaching the two-pole she stretched readily clear to score in great style by five lengths from Mistress Twister.

'Robert said he just loved the way she travelled and quickened on the ground and she's done nothing when she's got to the front,' said Muir's representative Jonathan Jannaway.

'You'd hope she'd go somewhere for some black type next. She'll have three maybe four weeks off now and then we'll try and find a suitable race.'

Whispering Death, a well-backed favourite when second at Warwick on his most recent outing, recouped losses when coming from last to first in the Skybet Press Red To Bet On C4 Stakes.

Liam Jones brought the 7-1 shot through from the rear to hit the front with two of the 18 furlongs to go and seeing the marathon trip out well, the progressive gelding ran on to beat Lodgician by three and a half lengths.

Trainer William Haggas said: 'This horse stays well and loves fast ground.

'I don't think the track at Warwick suited him last time but he travelled much sweeter today and a big galloping track like this suits him.

'I don't know about the Cesarewitch but one thing we will do is keep him for next year. He's by Pivotal, who is such a good sire, and they just get better and better.'

Apprentice Steve Donohoe, 22, made it seven winners in the last week with a near 24-1 double on Valdan and Fort Churchill.

The former finished like the proverbial rocket to take the Skybet Maiden Auction Stakes by three-quarters of a length from All You Need for Abergavenny trainer Dave Evans.

While Brian Ellison's Fort Churchill ran way from the opposition in the Fulford Golf Club Centenary Stakes to beat Reluctant Suitor by three and a half lengths.

But it was not all plain sailing for the 5lb claimer as he was banned for three days (August 9 to 11) after finishing a neck second on Bailieborough in the skybet.com Claiming Stakes.

He was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency, down the shoulder and without giving his mount time to respond.

The race went to the Richard Whitaker-trained Neon Blue, who was recording his third win on the Knavesmire.

? PA Sport