2012 York Ebor Meeting Thursday Preview

We had an impressive strike rate in the opening day of the York Ebor meeting and we've got plenty of action and excitement in store for our next day on Thursday. Frankel was able to defy all of the superlatives and he has firmly etched himself into racing folklore by stepping up in trip with just as much verve and aplomb as you could ever ask from a horse.

His flourish in the final 2f was something to behold and you get the feeling that nobody will ever forget watching that race, as Frankel made seasoned Group 1 winners (and the defending Breeders' Cup Turf Champion) look totally ordinary. 

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The first contest of the day is a 6f dash in the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes. There is a massive purse up for grabs here and this will pad the bankrolls of a number of up-and-coming two-year-old contenders. From a sheer form standpoint, they don't come much better than Body And Soul, who lines up for Tim Easterby's yard. He's taken three on the bounce and is seeking his fourth in this one. His OR is a ways below many of the others here but his RPR denotes all kinds of respect. 

Annunciation is towards the top of the weights and gets Jimmy Fortune for the trip - he scored last time out in a novice stakes at Chester when sent off as the 4/5 betting choice. Rocky Ground is also worth a look and emerges from the Roger Varian yard with Neil Callan booked for the trip. He was a beaten favourite last time out. 

20 runners makes this one more complicated than it probably should be as about 8 or 9 have little chance. 

The Group 2 Lowther Stakes for fillies is the next contest up after that and undefeated John Gosden charge Newfangled steps up looking for a third score in a row. William Buick is booked for the trip with the red hot yard. Pearl Sea has looked progressive over the past few efforts, finally getting up to score last time out. Rosdhu Queen gets Richard Hughes and enters with plenty of momentum. 

The good to firm ground is certainly a variable for some of these here and it already looks like Jeremy Noseda's charge is doubtful to make it. Give City Girl a second look at what could be a good price.