York The Perfect Stage For Gift

Godolphin's Stage Gift is making a habit of being cast as the stable second string but it has not stopped him picking up two valuable contests this season.

Fresh from a Group Three victory at Longchamp on his last start when overlooked by Frankie Dettori, this time it was Kerrin McEvoy who swerved him in favour of Winged Cupid in the Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire.

Partnered by Jamie Spencer for the first time, the 8-1 chance travelled like a dream throughout for the former champion jockey and his backers would not have had cause for concern at any point.

Aidan O'Brien's Eagle Mountain, runner-up behind Authorized in the Epsom Derby, was all the rage in the betting ring and was sent off the 6-5 favourite.

But dropping back in distance to 10 furlongs, he was found wanting when the pace quickened and could only get within one and a quarter lengths of the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained winner.

Take A Bow, winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, ran his usual solid race to finish third, but Winged Cupid disappointed for McEvoy and even though he was short of room when the pace quickened, he was never really on terms.

Martin Dwyer picked up a two-day ban for careless riding on Mashaahed and will be out of action on August 8 and 9.

Winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: 'He ran a big race. He's won a Group Three, a Group Two and now we can look forward to taking him to a Group One, which could possibly be the Juddmonte International.

'He has improved with every race, we have no firm plans for him but we have many options now.'

Spencer added: 'He did it well in the end, but he won despite the ground, not because of it.

'The way he travelled to two furlongs out, he should have gone away and won by five lengths. He will definitely be better suited to better ground.

'He could be a Group One horse if he keeps improving the way he is.'

Spencer enjoyed a good day in his pursuit of a second champion jockeys' crown as he also scored on Michael Bell's Gull Wing (7-2) in the skybet.com EBF Fillies' Stakes earlier in the afternoon to give him a 391/2-1 double.

'That was a smooth performance,' said Spencer. 'It looked a tight little race beforehand, but she did it easily.'

It was not all great news for Spencer, however, as his mount in the #50,000 Sky Bet Dash, the 7-2 favourite Skhilling Spirit, refused to come out of the stalls.

Punters would normally lose their money in such situations, but the sponsors returned all bets on the reluctant four-year-old.

The race eventually went the way of John Quinn's Zomerlust (8-1), giving the Malton handler another valuable handicap after the successes of Blythe Knight and Kings Quay this season. Turnkey and Green Park filled the places.

'He deserved a big prize,' said Quinn. 'The first-time visor made a difference today.'

There was further heartbreak for Middleham trainer George Moore and his stable star Macorville in the skybet.com Silver Cup.

Pipped at the post in the Northumberland Plate four weeks ago, he once again had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Tim Easterby's Wing Collar (7-2), who now has a tilt at the Ebor on his agenda, for which he was cut to 14-1 from 20s by totesport and VC Bet.

Macorville looked to have the race in the bag after seeing off Shawmill, but Paul Mulrennan produced Wing Collar late to win by three-quarters of a length.

'I feel a bit sorry for George as his horse ran such a great race in the Plate,' said Peter Easterby, father of winning trainer, Tim.

'He's in the Ebor and it's not ideal having a penalty, but he wouldn't have got in otherwise. It's not like in my day when you could properly plot it!'

Gallileo Figaro (15-2) won his third race in four starts this season under a determined drive from Jerry O'Dwyer in the Skybet.com Stakes, scoring by three-quarters of a length from 2-1 favourite Last Flight.

Pat Haslam unleashed a useful-looking juvenile in the shape of River Ardeche, who took the Bet And Watch At skybet.com Maiden Auction Stakes.

Making all under Kevin Darley, the 15-2 chance won by an impressive six lengths from Fulford and third-placed stablemate Bourbon Highball.

Brian Ellison's Turn Of Phrase, who finished third at the track on Thursday evening, went two places better in the concluding skybetvegas.com Stakes.

Ridden patiently by McEvoy, the 7-2 chance took up the running inside the distance to record a two-and-a-half-length victory over Dzesmin.

'It was always the plan to run at both meetings as he won twice in quick time earlier in the season,' said Ellison.

'I thought he was full of himself in the paddock and he had too much use made of him on Thursday.'

? PA Sport