Never So Brave repels all challengers to give No Nay Never a top-level 1-2 at York

A blanket finish to the first running of the City Of York Stakes provided Coolmore's No Nay Never with his ninth winner at the highest level as Never So Brave fought off the late plunge from paternal half-sibling Lake Forest to claim victory.

Carrying the Derby-winning silks of Saeed Suhail, Never So Brave was sent to Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable on the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute and the four-year-old gelding has continued his climb up the ladder this season.

Bred by the late Christopher Hanbury at Triermore Stud in County Meath, he was sold by New England Stud to Blandford Bloodstock for 240,000gns at Book 1.

He was runner-up to a subsequent Group 1 winner on each of his starts at two; on his debut Never So Brave finished second to Ancient Wisdom who ended the season with victory in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster while he came up against Vandeek in a Nottingham maiden.

Last season the half-brother to Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner and Claremount Stud sire Barraquero, by Zebedee, won two of his five starts. 

He was gelded at the end of the season and this year he made his debut for Balding at Chester and followed up with Royal Ascot glory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. 

Never So Brave's first foray into Group company was a successful one in the Summer Mile at Ascot last month and he made his Group 1 bow at York.

The bay is also a half-brother to Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes winner Pirate Jenny who was sold in foal to Wootton Bassett for 500,000gns at Tattersalls last December, bought by Amo Racing.

He has a two-year-old half-sister by Wootton Bassett, sire of Saturday's Group 2 Futurity Stakes winner Constitution River and Composing who was successful in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes. Now named Belle Of Georgia, the filly was sold by New England Stud to a consortium headed by Badgers Bloodstock for 420,000gns at Book 1.

No Nay Never: 1-2 in York Group 1 for Coolmore sire

Never So Brave is also the 17th individual Group 1 winner for Juddmonte's stellar broodmare sire Oasis Dream and is the first top-level winner produced on the cross which – with five stakes winners from 18 runners – has a black-type success rate of 28 per cent.

Oasis Dream is the broodmare sire of Juddmonte's exciting homebred Tarriance who also prevailed in a narrow finish at York with the Frankel colt taking the Melrose and initiating a double for Balding, although Juddmonte's retained rider Colin Keane was on board.

Afterwards, Juddmonte's Barry Mahon indicated that Tarriance, who is member of one of Juddmonte's most iconic families, might skip the St Leger for longer staying contests.

Tarriance is a half-brother to Listed winner and Grade 3-placed Western Reserve and out of the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner and triple Grade 1-placed Visit, who is an Oasis Dream half-sister to Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Promising Lead (by Danehill).

They are out of the Bahrain Trophy winner Arrive who is a Kahyasi full-sister to Juddmonte blue hen Hasili, dam of five individual Group/Grade 1 winners and the Group 2 winner but highly influential sire and broodmare sire Dansili.

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