York Dante meeting

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Starspangledbanner hits York for British debut


AUSTRALIAN superstars are rarely seen on these shores before Royal Ascot, but the presence of Starspangledbanner adds an international flavour to the first day of York's Dante meeting on Wednesday as he makes his European debut in the Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes.

A dual Group 1-winner at Caulfield, Starspangledbanner was switched to Aidan O'Brien's powerful Ballydoyle team in March and will have to defy 9st 12lb in the competitive-looking 6f sprint.


O'Brien said: "He's won over six furlongs and a mile and is a sound horse with a very good attitude.

"We haven't asked him to do a lot but he certainly isn't slow. In fact, he looks very quick and I've told Johnny [Murtagh] that he will need a neck brace and a parachute riding him."

The sponsors, who rate the import as a 4-1 chance, have two horses higher up their list for the race with last season's Darley July Cup runner-up Main Aim their 3-1 favourite and 2009 Gimcrack winner Showcasing at 7-2.

In the other first-day feature, the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, the Henry Cecil-trained Aviate heads the market as she bids to bolster her Investec Oaks chances.

A potential fly in the ointment comes in the shape of Ballydoyle's Cabaret, who was clipped into 16-1 (from 20) in Paddy Power's Oaks market on Tuesday.

Workforce faces five in Thursday's Dante

WORKFORCE, the Investec Derby second favourite, will face five rivals when he makes his reappearance in the Totesport Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.


Coordinated Cut, winner of the Tattersalls Timeform 3YO Trophy at Newmarket on his first start for Michael Bell, Chabal, the Godolphin colt who captured the Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, and Cape Blanco, unbeaten in three starts for Aidan O'Brien and said to be over a minor setback suffered at the weekend, will provide the main opposition to the Sir Michael Stoute-trained hopeful.


Bell said of Coordinated Cut: “He’s come out of Newmarket very well and is a healthy, happy horse.The track will suit him well and hopefully it’ll be a truly run race.

“Hopefully, he’ll book his place at Epsom – although he does not have to win because this is shorter than the Derby trip.”

Workforce won his only start last year when landing a Goodwood maiden by six lengths and is as low as 6-1 with Ladbrokes for the Epsom Classic as he bids to become the trainer's sixth winner of the York race.

The strength of the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas will get an early test with Fair Trade, who was tenth behind Makfi at Newmarket, lining up. The field is completed by Circumvent, who finished third in a Group 3 in France for Paul Cole last time.

The first three finishers in last year's Investec Oaks will clash again when Sariska, Midday and High Heeled meet in the totesport.com Middleton Stakes, for which five were declared.

Aviate!

Game is too easy

Race 6 Comrade Brown at around 12/1 ew

Hibs,

I think Fol Hollow in Race 1 at about 8/1 is great value too. Ran at Chester last time which I don't believe suited him.

Fith Avenue in the first at York

The last winner at York could be a monster this year!!

Gold Cup Bob?