Mustajeer mustard at York

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane have developed a formidable partnership in Ireland and the duo combined to great effect at York on Saturday to capture the first £1 million Ebor with Mustajeer.

Fourth behind Muntahaa in the prestigious handicap a year ago, Mustajeer was given a more prominent ride on this occasion.

Settled in midfield on the inside, he made good headway through the 22-runner field and was sent on a furlong and a half from home. The six-year-old kept on in determined fashion to score by three quarters of a length from the staying on Red Galileo under apprentice Cieren Fallon, with Desert Skyline half a length further back in third.

Owner David Spratt revealed that Mustajeer had been sold to Australian Bloodstock and would now head to trainer Kris Lees ahead of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup in November.

The Group 2 City of York Stakes saw a terrific finish as Shine So Bright and James Doyle defeated Laurens and PJ McDonald by a nose in the seven-furlong contest.

The Melrose Handicap for staying three-year-olds went to the improving Hamish, trained by William Haggas for his father, Brian, who also bred the Motivator gelding.

Boom! Chasemore Farm in the black at Goodwood

Betfair co-founder Andrew Black could have a homebred Classic contender on his hands in the shape of Boomer, who recorded a ready success in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.

Seven two-year-old fillies went to post for the seven-furlong prize and Richard Kingscote quickly had Boomer tracking the leader from his inside draw. Making his challenge against the far rail, Boomer quickened up well when asked to put the race to bed and held off the late challenge of Dark Lady to score by a cosy neck.

Boomer’s pedigree suggests she should have no problem staying a mile and further next year. By sire sensation Kingman, winner of four Group 1s at a mile, her dam Wall Of Sound, by Singspiel, was a three-time scorer up to an extended ten furlongs who achieved black type in Listed and Grade 2 races.

Like Kingman, Wall Of Sound also has a Juddmonte connection, as her dam Veiled Beauty, a daughter of Royal Academy, was bred by Khalid Abdullah’s operation.

Sold for just 10,000 guineas at the 2003 Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale, Veiled Beauty realised 160,000gns at the same sale five years later, having produced Group 3 winner The Cheka during the intervening period.

Duke Of Hazzard eyes Group 1 prize

Paul Cole has trained some outstanding performers over the years and the Whatcombe handler could have another Group 1 prospect on his hands in the shape of the progressive three-year-old Duke Of Hazzard, decisive winner of the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Successful at Group 3 level on his previous start at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Duke Of Hazzard had no problem with the step up to Group 2 company. The son of Lope De Vega tracked the pace and used his potent turn of foot to see off Turgenev by three quarters of a length under Rossa Ryan, enjoying the finest moment of his career to date.

Jim and Fitri Hay’s miler, who is three from three since connections turned to blinkers, could now step up to Group 1 class for a crack at the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on September 8.

Paul Dean’s Sir Ron Priestley is a young stayer going places and the son of Australia followed up his Goodwood Festival win with a ready victory in the Group 3 March Stakes. The St Leger at Doncaster on September 14 could now be on the agenda for the Mark Johnston-trained three-year-old.

Honor takes Travers

New York-based trainer Claude ‘Shug’ McGaughey captured Saratoga’s headline race on Saturday, the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, with Code Of Honor, who saw off Tacitus, placed previously in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Earlier on the Saratoga card, the Ed Walker-trained Indian Blessing was just denied in the Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes under Florent Geroux, going down narrowly to Significant Form and John Velazquez.