Sky Bet City Of York Stakes report: Plain sailing for Safe Voyage
Safe Voyage #SafeVoyage
John Quinn’s stable star reveled in the soft ground and produced a turn of foot at the furlong pole that none of his rivals could match.
13/8 favourite One Master tried to take aim at the winner but was never able to land a blow and was a widening three-and-a-half lengths adrift at the line.
Queen Jo Jo ran a cracker in third.
Sky Bet go 8/1 from 12s about the winner for the Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp while Betfair and Paddy Power introduced him at 14/1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
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Winning jockey Jason Hart said: “When Silvestre de Sousa’s horse (Shine So Bright) came out, I knew there might be a lack of pace so I thought it might be an idea (to making the running).
“He’s a very versatile horse. The only thing with him is he wouldn’t want firm ground, so I was happy this morning when I saw the rain. It’s my first Group Two winner. When it’s wet, soft ground like that, he thrives on it.”
Safe Voyage rounded off last season by finishing third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and an appearance on Champions Day could be on the agenda again.
Quinn said: “We didn’t see much pace in the race so we thought there was no point faffing about. The jockey gave him a very good ride. He’s ground versatile – he just doesn’t want it very quick.
“We’ll look at the QEII again and he’s in a race or two on Arc weekend. He could do both and there’s also a very valuable race at the Breeders’ Cup – a mile on turf round two turns (Breeders’ Cup Mile). You can normally get plenty of cut in the ground at Keeneland. That’s just a pipe dream, but it’s something to think about.”
The William Haggas-trained One Master was not disgraced in defeat and will be prepared for a Foret hat-trick bid.
Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife and assistant, said: “She ran a good race. She was probably just a bit too far back in a slowly-run race, but it’s one of those things. The plan is to go back for the Foret again. She never lets us down – she’s a star.”