In-form Endless Time gets Yorkshire Oaks spot

The four-year-old has won six of her last seven starts, including the Lancashire Oaks last time out on what was her first appearance since October.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Sea The Stars filly will be having her first run at the highest level.

“Endless Time has continued to please Charlie since her win in the Lancashire Oaks last month,” said Godolphin’s chief executive John Ferguson.

“She is a filly who has improved with racing and she deserves her chance in a Group One.”

The day two highlight of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, Endless Time is one of 14 fillies and mares engaged in the Group One at the six-day stage.

Aidan O’Brien can chose from Found, Even Song, Pretty Perfect and Seventh Heaven but as expected he took out Oaks heroine Minding.

Jim Bolger has left in Turret Rocks as he looks for back-to-back wins following on from Pleascach last year.

Mick Channon’s Harlequeen has been placed in both the Oaks and Epsom and in Ireland and would not be winning out of turn.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Queen’s Trust, David Simcock’s Bateel, Luca Cumani’s Koora and stablemate Loving Things are also in the mix.

There is French interest in the shape of Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Candarliya, a multiple Group race winner, while John Gosden’s Furia Cruzada and Middleham trainer Mark Johnston’s Fireglow are also engaged.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned O’Brien has given his strongest indication yet that King George hero Highland Reel will line up in Wednesday’s £900,000 Juddmonte International.

However, the Ballydoyle handler said Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger is “unlikely” to run.

But 2015 Juddmonte heroine Arabian Queen, who caused an upset when beating Epsom Derby victor Golden Horn, may have run her last race.

Owner Jeff Smith has admitted they have been unable to get to the bottom of the problem .

Only when Arabian Queen returns to training will trainer David Elsworth and owner/breeder Smith be able to make a decision as to whether the four-year-old is retired to the paddocks.

“She’s got intermittent lameness but we’ve not figured out what it is that is stopping her running,” said Smith.

“She picked it up in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and has not been right since.

“It is not a serious injury, but it has stopped her from running and interrupted her training as she can’t gallop.

“If she does not run any more this season that will be it.”

Ralph Beckett will make a decision over the participation of 2015 Ladbrokes St Leger winner Simple Verse in next week’s Lonsdale Cup at York following a weekend gallop.

The dual Group One-winning filly has yet to win in three starts this season and has not raced since finishing down the field in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A step up to two miles is now under consideration for the Qatar Racing-owned Classic heroine.

Meanwhile, Richard Hannon’s Ventura Storm remains on course for next month’s St Leger at 
Doncaster following an impressive win at Deauville last weekend.

The horse is owned by Barton-upon-Humber syndicate Middleham Park Racing. Spokesman Tim Palin said: “It is our owners’ dream to win a Classic. We have had two Group One winners and had runners in Classics but we have never won one – it is on our bucket list.”

Jockey Frankie Dettori secured his 3,000th British winner when Predilection claimed victory at Newmarket last night.

The Italian rider reached the notable landmark with a half-length defeat of Palmerston in the James Hardie Cladding At U Plastics Handicap over a mile.

Dettori had earlier moved on to the 2,999-winner mark when Ghayyar landed the NGK Spark Plugs EBF Stallions Maiden – a race won in 2010 by the mighty Frankel.

Predilection, a 7-2 chance, made all of the running and Dettori raised aloft his right arm when he crossed the line. The 45-year-old then performed his trademark flying dismount.