Taking place on the 16th May 2012, the Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race, competed by thoroughbreds aged three years and older.
Contested over six furlongs of York Racecourse, it forms part of the Dante Meeting which also includes the Epsom Derby, Dante Stakes and the Middleton Stakes. With a prize fund of £100,000, it is a prestigious race that may look forward too.
Looking at the history of this race, the current version first took place in 1968. It was then awarded with Group 2 status in 2003 and since this date, the attention on this race has increased year after year.
As far as the most successful winners are concerned, only one horse has secured victory in this race twice, with Handsome Sailor leading the way in 1987 and 1988. There are then three jockeys that have won the Duke of York on four occasions, with Michael Hills winning for the fourth time in 2006.
With regards to the other winners in the last ten years, no horse, jockey or trainer has won the race more than once. It is therefore an open field and there isn’t anyone that has such a famous record in the Duke of York that you can’t look beyond them.
Last year, Frankie Dettori was victorious with Delegator, securing the quickest time since 1992. Explosive pace is the key for this race of this and Dettori certainly had this last year. Who will step up in 2012?
Well, the favourite is Bated Breath, available at 5/1. The Prince Khalid Abdulla owned horse fell just short of major wins last year – finishing as runner up in the Darley July Cup and the Nearstic Stakes amongst others – and many expect York to be the venue for a famous win.
Next in line as far as the betting are concerned is Hoof It and Mason. Both can be backed at 5/1 and this shows how open the race is. To have three horses available at the same odds is very rare indeed.
Our selection comes from beyond these three though in the shape of Society Rock. Available at 6/1, this winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes has been rested for this race and could relish the six furlong distance. Because of the break for this James Fanshawe trained horse, the value is worth taking advantage of.
You can see how this one pans out on Wednesday 16th May.
{ 0 comments… add one now }