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A field of eight is set to go to post in the Sky Bet York Stakes run over an extended 10 furlongs at York this Saturday.
Danadana (Luca Cumani) is the 3/1 favourite with Sky Bet. The six-year-old was a Group Three winner at Chester and also landed a Turkish Group Two event in 2013. He was last seen out when third to subsequent Group One winner Noble Mission in the Group Three Huxley Stakes at Chester on May 8, with Telescope, who went on to win the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, in second. Newmarket-based Cumani is seeking his second Sky Bet York Stakes success, having scored with Summit Surge in 2010.
Secret Gesture (Ralph Beckett, 9/2) finished runner-up in the Group One Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs in 2013 behind her stable companion Talent. The four-year-old has made two appearances in 2014, finishing runner-up in the Group Two Middleton Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs at York in May before comfortably winning the Listed Warwickshire Oaks over 10 furlongs at Nottingham on June 16.
Beckett commented today: "Secret Gesture is in good shape and the trip, track and ground should all suit.
"We decided to go for the Sky Bet York Stakes instead of the Nassau because at Goodwood it's likely that she would be taking on the fillies that have already beaten her.
"Saturday's race is a Group Two and she has been getting beaten up at Group One level all of her life. There's no Farraaj in there and, although it's full of nice horses, they are Group Two horses. I'm looking forward to running her."
Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor is the most successful trainer in the Sky Bet York Stakes, having enjoyed a pair of victories courtesy of Stage Gift (2007) and Kirklees (2009). He is doubly represented this year with Windhoek (7/2), an impressive winner of a 10-furlong Listed contest at Sandown Park on July 4 and Sharestan (10/1), who was successful in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes, also at Sandown Park, in May prior to finishing fifth to Telescope in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Godolphin will also be represented by Long John (Charlie Appleby, 7/1), who is a Group One winner over a mile in Australia and a Group Three winner over the same distance at Meydan. He made his British debut the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot on July 12, when he was a staying-on third to Guest Of Honour.
Sheikhzayedroad (David Simcock, 6/1) finished the nose runner-up to Sharestan at Sandown Park before landing a Listed contest over 12 furlongs at Newmarket on June 28. The five-year-old was campaigned in Dubai over the winter, winning a valuable 10-furlong handicap at Meydan on January 16.
Producer (Richard Hannon, 10/1) is a dual Group Three winner and also won a Turkish Group Two in 2013. He was one place behind Long John in the Summer Mile at Ascot, having previously finished a close fifth in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Completing the line-up is Zambucca (Gay Kelleway, 16/1). The six-year-old is a Grade Two winner in South Africa but has not yet troubled the judge in three British outings, most recently finishing fifth in the Summer Mile.
Sky Bet York Stakes, Sky Bet prices: 3/1 Danadana; 7/2 Windhoek; 9/2 Secret Gesture; 6/1 Sheikhzayedroad; 7/1 Long John; 10/1 Producer, Sharestan; 16/1 Zambucca
Each Way: 1/5 for first 3 placesMuthmir heads a maximum field of 20 for the £50,000 Sky Bet Dash Handicap over six furlongs. The William Haggas-trained four-year-old is the 11/2 favourite with the sponsor following a good second at Newcastle on June 28.
In-form trainer Paul Midgley will be represented by Line Of Reason (7/1 with Sky Bet), who is chasing a four-timer on the back of a five-furlong course success on July 11. The four-year-old got the ball rolling at Thirsk on June 17 before plundering a valuable handicap at the Curragh 11 days later, both over six furlongs.
North Yorkshire handler Dandy Nicholls looks to have a live chance with recent Chester victor Kimberella (10/1), while David O'Meara's two-pronged assault is led by Out Do (10/1), who was a close third in the Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton on July 18.
Other interesting contenders include Irish raider Zalty (11/1, David Marnane), course and distance winner See The Sun (11/1, Tim Easterby) and Goldream (14/1) from the stable of 'sprint king' Robert Cowell.
Sky Bet Dash, Sky Bet prices: 11/2 Muthmir; 7/1 Line Of Reason; 10/1 Kimberella, Out Do; 11/1 See The Sun, Zalty; 14/1 Goldream, Hoof It; 16/1 Rene Mathis, Secretinthepark; 20/1 Foxtrot Romeo; 22/1 Morawij; 25/1 Ancient Cross, Bogart, Hitchens, Picture Dealer; 28/1 Bondesire, Whozthecat; 33/1 Mappin Time; 50/1 Tellovoi
Each Way: 1/4 for first 4 places