Gleneagles Colt Strikes Late In Group 2 Sprint

Mill Stream (4c Gleneagles – Swirral Edge, by Hellvelyn) overcame trouble in running to capture the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes on the opening day of York’s May meeting.

A dual Stakes winner last season, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s charge finished a close second in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes on his seasonal return last month. He was sent off second favourite on Wednesday and raced in touch in the early stages under William Buick. He suffered a troubled passage with two furlongs left to race, before running on well approaching the final furlong and led close home.

Chapple-Hyam later earmarked the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot as the winner’s target. “Mill Stream is a lovely horse and he's improved,” she said. “I think he's good enough to go to Ascot for the Jubilee. He's done it nicely against the older horses.”

“He'd have been a bit of an unlucky loser,” Buick added. “I'm delighted he got the call, he deserved it. He's been knocking on the door quite a few times and I hope this will be his year. As a four-year-old, he's a big, strong, more mature horse.”

Mill Stream continues a successful return top racing by owner Peter Harris, who also owns recent Group 3 Greenham Stakes runner-up El Bodon (Churchill). His latest winner was bred by Redpender Stud, who sold the bay to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock as a yearling for 350,000gns.

Thursday’s result further demonstrated the versatility of Castlehyde Stud sire Gleneagles, whose son Ambiente Friendly (Gleneagles) recently emerged as a leading contender for the Epsom Derby when storming clear in the Lingfield trial.