Ten To Follow Update (30.08.2018)

The second half of the Flat season has begun with 21 scoring opportunities over the past week from Goodwood, Newmarket, Ripon, Salisbury, Windsor and with 12 of these point scoring races from York at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival. 

The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival started with a bang with the Juddmonte International. Nearly every runner in the race was a Group 1 winner and this stellar field delivered a great race. Roaring Lion backed up his Dante romp at your with another commanding win, with his devastating turn of foot settling the race in a furlong. Oisin Murphy always had him tracking the leaders and made smooth headway over 3 furlongs out. He was ridden to lead well within the final two furlongs and didn't see another rival. 

Thursday was a great day for players as all three Group races provided winning scores. Fairyland got the ball rolling with a gutsy performance in the Lowther Stakes. She led for much of the race, only to be headed well inside the final furlong, but she rallied well under pressure to lead again on the line. Next up was a magnificent performance from Sea of Class in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was held up in rear and made smooth headway 2f out and shaken up and quickened to lead inside the final furlong, soon clear under hands and heels riding. Surely the Arc will be next on her agenda. Forty minutes later another filly made a great impact. The former Oaks favourite Lah Ti Dar had been missing for much of the season through injury but she came back here in tremendous style. Frankie Dettori had her tracking the leaders before making headway on wide outside 3 furlongs out before going clear 2 furlongs out and running out a 10 length winner. 

Friday was all about Stradivarius in the Lonsdale Cup. He needed to win to get the £1 million Stayers bonus put up by Weatherbys Hamilton and he did not disappoint. It was a workman like performance, which isn't surprising after his long year so far. Frankie tracked the leaders and took closer order over 4f out. He was pushed along and slightly outpaced 3f out, but made headway over 2f out before being ridden to lead approaching final furlong and won by 1 and a half lengths. He deserves a good break now for such a remarkable achievement. 

Other winners over the weekend were Beat The Bank at Goodwood, Lord Glitters and Expert Eye on the Saturday of the Ebor Festival. 

The full leaderboard can be found here.