York Dante meeting: Second Step can collect in Yorkshire Cup
Published:
David Metcalf | May 12, 2016
Second Step can lift the Yorkshire Cup
Second Step has a good record fresh and can get the better of Flying Officer to land the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup on the final day of York’s Dante meeting (16:05).
The Luca Cumani trained five-year-old is very lightly raced for his age, but has a tremendous strike rate having won five of his 11 starts.
They include a game head success over Telescope in a Group 2 contest at Newmarket on his return to action last season, and a battling 3/4 length success in a Group 1 in Germany.
Second Step was also far from disgraced when fourth to wide margin winner Order Of St George in the Group 1 Irish St Leger, holding every chance until weakening two from home to be beaten 11 3/4 lengths.
Curragh form strong
The five-year-old finished in front of the likes of Forgotten Rules and Gospel Choir , and the form is strong in the context of this contest.
Second Step also goes extremely well for Andrea Atzeni, who has partnered him to three of his career successes, and has won first time up for the last two seasons.
This race is also likely to be run to suit and, with underfoot conditions ideal, everything looks in place for a huge run.
Flying Officer and Frankie feared most
Flying Officer has developed into a useful stayer and looks sure to go well in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
The John Gosden trained six-year-old was unbeaten in three starts last season, and in the last of those stayed on strongly to beat Clever Cookie by a length in a Group 2 over 2m at Ascot.
Flying Officer has nothing to fear from the re-opposing Clever Cookie on that running, and looked as good as ever on his seasonal reappearance last month at Ascot when a close-up third to Mizzou in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over 2m.
The gelding attempted to make all before weakening close home to be beaten 3/4 of a length, and it was an effort which suggested he was in for another good campaign.
However, the drop back to 1m 6f in this may not suit Flying Officer and he could prove a sitting duck in the closing stages to something with a turn of foot and Second Step fits that bill.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Second Step has some top class form in the book and looks decent value to make a winning return to action. Flying Officer is a consistent sort and can chase him home.
