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Snow Sky tames Panther in Yorkshire Cup Third in last year's St Leger (Eng-G1) at Doncaster, Khalid Abdullah's Snow Sky (Nayef) rebounded from a disappointing seventh in December's Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) to prevail in a thrilling renewal of the Yorkshire Cup (Eng-G2) on seasonal return Friday. Settled off the pace in fifth until the race began in earnest in the straight, the 5-2 joint-second favorite loomed large on the outside with under three furlongs remaining and stayed on resolutely under a Ryan Moore drive to outgame brave old stager Brown Panther (Shirocco) by a half-length, with Havana Beat (Teofilo) 1 1/2 lengths further adrift in third. "They went quite steady and I just wanted to get him wound up, but he picked up a lot sooner than I thought he would," explained Moore. "He was in front too early, but for his first run of the year he toughed it out and I'm really happy with that." Successful in the Lingfield Derby Trial last May, Snow Sky bypassed Epsom and ran fourth in the June 20 King Edward VII (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot before regaining the winning thread in the July 30 Gordon S. (Eng-G3) at Goodwood. He was then runner-up in the August 20 Great Voltigeur S. (Eng-G2) at this track before hitting the board behind Kingston Hill (Mastercraftsman) and the re-opposing Romsdal (Halling) in the September 13 St Leger at Doncaster. The homebred bay was undone by a sedate tempo in the December 14 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, and was at odds with trainer Sir Michael Stoute's pre-race pessimism to register a career-high win in gutsy fashion here. Snow Sky raced in fifth until nudged along in early stretch. Making eyecatching progress on the outside inside the final half mile, he arrived on the scene going well approaching the final quarter mile and was tenacious under Moore's power drive to outpoint Brown Panther in a bobbing finish, edging ahead in the dying strides. "He's very courageous and dug deep," commented Stoute. "If anything, he got there a little too early and looked about a bit. I think a mile-and-six is his limit as he is very effective over a mile-and-a-half. I think I'd like to finish up in Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1). I hope the two miles there won't be a problem, but it's worth throwing a dart. He traveled well to Hong Kong and has a very good temperament so we need to stop and think about his program now." Brown Panther found the concession of a four-pound penalty, incurred for annexing last year's Irish St Leger (Ire-G1), just beyond him, but connections of the runner-up were far from downhearted. "It's always a disappointment to get beaten, but he's run a great race," said trainer Tom Dascombe. "(Royal) Ascot's a different day and a different trip so we will carry on as if nothing has happened." Part-owner and breeder Michael Owen added, "We're thrilled, but the winner won on merit and there's no shame in coming second. We've tailored his seaon around the Gold Cup ([Eng-G1] June 18) and that will be his next race." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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