Elmonjed surges to commanding victory in Minster Stakes Elmonjed announced himself as a sprinter on the rise with a commanding victory in the Go Local Stores Minster Stakes at York. A winner of three of his four previous starts on the Knavesmire, including a Listed success here in September, William Haggas’ five-year-old was sent off 8-1 in the hands of William Buick for what was his second outing of the season having blown away the cobwebs at Newmarket last month. In no rush tracking the pace on the far side of the track, Buick soon manoeuvred his mount into a position to strike and he breezed passed the reappearing Group One winner Kind Of Blue before surging to a length success over James Fanshawe’s 4-1 joint favourite for what was a clear career-best performance. The race Elmonjed won in September was the one in which Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan suffered serious injuries and are still sidelined. Haggas said: “He really loves this track. I think the draw helped today. “He’s a really tough horse, he’s gone from handicaps and won the Listed in September. We kept him in training to win this race as we thought we may as well have a go at a Group Two.” Ascot Targets After York Success Almeraq was Crowley’s mount that day and remains with Haggas. “Almeraq is fine, he worked this morning, he’s sound and I’m happy with him, he’s pencilled in to run next weekend either at Salisbury or in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh but he could do with a bit of rain. “He’ll need his first run, he was a bit shook up after the fall but obviously not as badly as Jim and Trevor.” International Ambitions for Rising Star As for future plans for Elmonjed he said: “He’s in the Wokingham but I don’t suppose he’ll be running in it. “I didn’t put him in the Jubilee at Ascot so I suppose we’ll have a go at the Prix Maurice de Gheest, off the top of my head. A fast, flat track is what he likes and he needs to go for a Group One now. “Whether we put him in the July Cup we’ll see but the Nunthorpe is too sharp for him. Maybe the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.” Fanshawe said of the runner-up: “I’m very happy with that for his first run back, we’ve just had a much clearer run with him this spring. “Last year was really messy, but he’s really behaved today and he ran a really good race apart from not winning. “He’ll definitely go to Ascot all being well, if he’s in one piece.” Another Group One winner, Regional, was third for Ed Bethell who said: “We’re delighted with him, he will go straight to Ascot now for six furlong race on the Saturday (Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes).”
