Daiquiri Bay Lands Ebor Glory on the Knavesmire as Alan King Celebrates York Triumph

Daiquiri Bay continued his remarkable progression this season by claiming the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor at York, following up his Royal Ascot success with another valuable victory.

The four-year-old had already established himself as a capable handicapper for Alan King, but his form has reached new heights since being gelded during the off-season.

A comeback victory at Newmarket was followed by a narrow success in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, where he also broke the track record.

King subsequently resisted the temptation to run his charge again, instead keeping him fresh for the feature race of the Ebor Festival.

That decision paid dividends as Rossa Ryan settled Daiquiri Bay in midfield for much of the one-mile-six-furlong contest before beginning his challenge shortly after the home turn.

Daiquiri Bay travelled strongly into contention and, with the near-side rail providing a guide, showed plenty of determination in the closing stages to prevail in a thrilling three-way finish.

Wathnan Racing’s Hopewell Rock and Opportunity filled the remaining places, with little separating the leading trio at the line.

King was full of praise for Ryan’s ride afterwards, saying: “It was a great ride from Rossa and I’m just blown away.

“We still have plenty of hurdlers and he’d make a nice one, but I don’t think I’ll suggest that today!

“This has been the plan since Ascot, after that Rossa said to put him away for the Ebor as he had a tough race. He broke the track record at Ascot, so we were able to give him a little break and build him up.

“His preparation has gone great, the rain came and I almost think he’s a better horse on slow ground.”

The victory was particularly significant for King, who has long wanted to land York’s showpiece handicap.

He added: “It’s a very special day. We had the favourite back in 2003 with Salsalino, but he only finished third. It’s a very special race.

“We came hopeful he’d run well and he was always in the right place, but I thought the Wathnan horses were coming to do me.

“He was entitled to do what he did and he was still on the up, so we hoped. Horses we’ve brought here before have been more exposed. We actually needed him to go up after Ascot so he was guaranteed a run.

“When you win these big races it is always emotional and we don’t win as many as we used to.

“I’ve always tried to win an Ebor but you need one on the way up and this one was.”

The prospect of stepping up again to the Melbourne Cup was put to King, but the trainer laughed off the suggestion.

“When asked if he would now consider the Melbourne Cup King laughed: “I don’t travel, you do well to get me to go to York!””

Wathnan Racing adviser Richard Brown was pleased with the performances of both Hopewell Rock and Opportunity, despite seeing the pair denied by Daiquiri Bay.

Brown said: “It’s one of those where you are delighted that they have run so well but you want to win – all credit to Alan King because his horse was so brave.

“I thought we were definitely getting there with Hopewell Rock, but they’ve run brilliantly.

“The Melbourne Cup reps are here and I still need to find out if he qualifies for it, but that was the plan.

“Opportunity has not been an easy horse; he’s actually been quite difficult so William (Haggas) and his team have done a brilliant job with him.

“He might be a Cup horse next year, we’ll see. He’ll get better with age.”

Daiquiri Bay’s victory provides King with one of the biggest wins of his Flat career and further underlines the four-year-old’s rapid improvement since returning to action this season.

With the Ebor now added to his Royal Ascot success, the gelding has firmly established himself as one of the leading staying handicappers in Britain.