Woods eyeing York Stakes for Savvy Victory

Simon Milham
July 21, 2023 9:19 am

Impressive Sandown scorer poised for step up in class.

Sean Woods could step Savvy Victory up in class for next week’s Sky Bet York Stakes.

The four-year-old came from last to first under Tom Marquand to take the Listed Gala Stakes at Sandown earlier this month and may now test the water at Group Two level in the feature event on the final day of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival.

Savvy Victory’s clear-cut Sandown success was just compensation for a luckless run at Royal Ascot when badly hampered at a crucial stage in the Hampton Court.

Bolted up! ⚡️
Savvy Victory cruises to the William Hill Handicap 🥇#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races | @davidprobert9 pic.twitter.com/QsLhtnkzcj
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 28, 2022

Woods is now scouring the programme book after his charge was hiked 6lb in the weights, with an appearance on the Knavesmire at the forefront of the Newmarket handler’s mind.

He said: “He has taken his run at Sandown very well and is back cantering. We are just waiting to see what options we have. We don’t have many options being rated 111 now.

“So, he will have an entry at York and will have an entry at Haydock (Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, August 12). Depending on the ground and opposition, we will make out minds up after that.”

Savvy Victory in action at Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

Woods added: “We’ll put him in the York Stakes over 10 furlongs, but that ground can be a bit iffy sometimes.

“He likes cut in the ground and the weather is messing up everything at the moment. I had 11 entries for Saturday and I run one!

“If either one isn’t good, there is a Group Three at Windsor (Winter Hill Stakes, August 26), but he will be stepped up, rather than running again in a Listed race. He will be stepped up to a Group Two or Group Three.

“It’s a nice problem to have, so I’m happy.”