Old and novel stars are set to collide in York's latest Group 1 race - a comprehensive examination of the key contenders in the City of York Stakes.
News Article: Top Contenders for the 2025 City of York Stakes Announced
The City of York Stakes, a prestigious Group 1 race, is set to take place next week at York Racecourse. This year's event promises to be an exciting one, with several top contenders vying for the coveted title.
Leading the pack is Rosallion, currently the favourite with odds of 1/1. Trained by Andrew Balding, Rosallion is dropping back to 7 furlongs for the first time since winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as a two-year-old. The horse is considered the class act of the race, likely to benefit from the race shape.
Another top contender is Never So Brave, trained by Andrew Balding as well. With odds of 4-1, Never So Brave has made significant progress this season, winning on two of his three starts. However, it's worth noting that he has never raced at York before.
Maranoa Charlie, a horse trained by Christopher Head, is another strong contender with odds around 4/1 to 9/1. This French three-year-old has shown impressive form over 7 furlongs, including three Group 3 wins and a close second in a recent Group 1 race in France.
Other notable runners include Exactly (9/1), Lake Forest (12/1), and Audience (20/1). While these horses have shown solid form, they are generally seen as less likely to challenge the top three.
Notable Speech, trained by Charlie Appleby, has odds of 12-1 for the City of York Stakes. The son of Dubawi has shown speed over a mile, but he failed to reignite his spark in the July Cup at a drop back to 6f. His participation in the race is uncertain, as he needs to prove his form.
Lazzat, a winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, could compete in the City of York Stakes, but a quick turnaround would be required. Lazzat, a son of Territories, has won over seven furlongs, but he suffered a shock defeat in the Maurice de Gheest last weekend.
Kinross is another interesting contender with odds of 10-1. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Kinross has won the City of York Stakes twice before but was withdrawn from the Lennox Stakes on veterinary advice after being kicked by Audience.
The City of York Stakes is run over 7 furlongs on good to firm ground at York’s Ebor Festival. This race, which was upgraded to a Group 1 in 2025, is the newest addition to the festival's prestigious lineup.
In summary, the focus is mainly on Rosallion, Never So Brave, and Maranoa Charlie as the primary threats in this highly competitive field. However, with a week to go before the race, there's still time for surprises.
[1] Racing Post [2] At The Races [4] BBC Sport
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
