Lure of Lonsdale Cup provides Estimate with perfect opportunity to shine at York

The first time ever that a horse owned by a reigning monarch had won Royal Ascot’s showpiece race, the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup on August 24 is the probable target for Her Majesty’s heroic four-year-old.

York’s main support race on Ebor day, this two-mile Group Two race has been won by some of Flat racing’s supreme stayers like Persian Punch, Opinion Poll, Sergeant Cecil, Tim Easterby’s St Leger winner Bollin Eric, Mark Johnston’s Royal Rebel and the William Buick-ridden Times Up in 2012.

With Estimate back in training following her battling victory in June which prompted spontaneous scenes of celebration in the Royal box, the timing of the York race would give sufficient time for the filly to recover before lining up in the stayers’ race at Ascot’s Qipco Champions Day in October.

“We haven’t discussed plans with Her Majesty yet but it (Lonsdale Cup) is definitely on the agenda,” the Queen’s racing manager John Warren told the Yorkshire Post. “We’re mindful that it is a race of potential significance for the filly to be considered for. I can’t say we will definitely go, but it is a race we would like to go for.”

The final decision is likely to rest with Estimate’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who reports the filly to be “doing very well” after outgalloping battle-hardened colts in a pulsating marathon that saw triumphant jockey Ryan Moore earn rich plaudits for his horsemanship.

“She’s had some time off – two-and-a-half miles was a big ask. Sir Michael Stoute has given her a nice let down and she is now back in full work,” added Warren. “With fillies like this, each race teaches you something new. Once you’ve jumped one hurdle, you can start thinking about the next one. The Lonsdale is the next one facing us.”

Though the Queen would be unlikely to break off from her summer holiday at Balmoral to travel to York, Estimate’s participation would enhance the reputation of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival following the presence of Frankel last year.

The Lonsdale Cup, one of the highlights of the meeting’s fourth and final day, precedes the Betfred Ebor which is now on the agenda for Bishop Roko following his victory at Ascot on Sunday.

“The Ebor is his target as long as the 3lb penalty that he picked up gets him into the race,” said trainer Roger Charlton.

Meanwhile, Grandeur remains firmly on course for a return to America for next month’s Arlington Million after narrowly losing to Mukhadram in the Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday.

Jeremy Noseda’s four-year-old has already enjoyed success across the Atlantic after claiming the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita and the Hollywood Turf Cup late last year.

“Grandeur ran a lifetime best – it was a great performance. He was beaten by only three-quarters by one of the best horses we’ve seen this season in England, giving him 3lb,” he said.

The Sky Bet York Stakes was one of the fixtures which helped push the total attendance at this year’s Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival to 100,000. It saw Malton’s Richard Fahey crowned as a leading trainer and Robert Winston become top jockey, while Yorkshire-born jockey Jacob Butterfield enhanced his growing reputation.

Top National Hunt jockey Ruby Walsh has paid tribute to champion apprentice Amy Ryan, who suffered a crashing fall at York on Saturday in her first ride since her partner Brian Toomey suffered serious injuries in a fall at Perth.

Walsh tweeted: “Amy Ryan is one hardy lady, fired around York like rag doll and gets up and walks out of the ambulance.”

However, star sprinter Pearl Secret will miss the rest of the season after suffering a fractured splint bone.

David Barron’s pride and joy was due to reappear at Glorious Goodwood on Friday after finishing third in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He went on the horse-walker Saturday morning and was absolutely fine, then I checked on him Saturday afternoon and I could just tell something wasn’t quite right,” said the despondent North Yorkshire trainer.

Barron has had many high-class sprinters come through his Maunby base, including 1997 Nunthorpe dead-heater Coastal Bluff. However, he is unequivocal in his regard for Pearl Secret.

He said: “He is without doubt the quickest. We have just got to hope that he can race on but the advice is that the chances are 50/50 at best.”