Shepherd looking to guide King’s Gambit to York Stakes glory
In-form jockey eyeing another big-race success on progressive colt.
Callum Shepherd’s fine summer form could continue on Saturday as he comes in for an enviable ride on King’s Gambit in the Sky Bet York Stakes. The jockey has been consistently collecting valuable prizes since Isle Of Jura landed the Bahrain Triple Crown in February, with the same horse then turning that Middle Eastern form into Royal Ascot success in the Hardwicke Stakes. Shepherd has carried the same Victorious Racing silks to several more significant wins this term, with Watch My Tracer, Seven Questions and Phantom Flight taking the Spring Cup Stakes, the Palace House and the Steventon Stakes respectively for trainer George Scott. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah also provided the rider with a Group Two triumph in the Summer Mile as part of a recent Ascot treble, and he will bid for another title at the same level aboard King’s Gambit. The colt is trained by Harry and Roger Charlton and has so far been the ride of William Buick, who will be required to head to Ascot instead at the weekend and therefore leaves the way clear for Shepherd to get the leg-up.King’s Gambit was a convincing winner of the London Gold Cup on his seasonal debut and missed out by just three-quarters of a length in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting. “I’m really looking forward to the ride on King’s Gambit on Saturday, it’s a tight but very competitive field with the return of Passenger,” Shepherd said. “We’re the three-year-old in the line-up but we’re coming into it on the back of two really good runs. “He won the London Gold Cup very well, which is a race with an excellent roll of honour, then he was a very good second to Jayarebe at Ascot. “He was drawn a little out and he didn’t have as kind a run round as the winner, he’s a horse that has got real Group potential and you could see him being very competitive on Saturday.”
Alflaila is up in time to win a thrilling renewal of the feature Group 2 @SkyBet York Stakes, with the four-year-old defying a 294-day absence to score under @Atzenijockey for trainer @ojburrows74 🏆 pic.twitter.com/7VRCvRMmX8
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) July 29, 2023
Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Luther never too much for Fellowes at Haydock
‘He’s got a lot of options and hopefully he’ll be a Guineas horse next year’.
-
Epic Poet gets it all right in Old Borough Cup
Big handicap success at Haydock has been on the cards.
-
Impressive Kalpana cut for Champions Day mission
Kempton winner heading for Group One test at Ascot next month.
-
Holloway Boy makes long-awaited return to winner’s enclosure
Debut win at Royal Ascot in 2022 had not been added to since.
-
‘Complete horse’ Charyn primed for mouthwatering Moulin
Guineas winner Notable Speech awaits in ParisLongchamp showdown.
-
Ballet Slippers tip-toes her way to success at Ascot
Regally-bred O’Brien filly likely to be tested at a higher level next.
-
Inisherin freshened up and raring to go in search of Sprint Cup glory
Memories of July Cup defeat can be banished on Merseyside.
-
Kalpana can set up Champions Day outing with Kempton victory
Former winner Hamish one of those in opposition in September Stakes.