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Ryan saves his best for Gimcrack as Emaraaty Ana makes all

Emaraaty Ana: a determined winner of the Gimcrack Stakes for Kevin Ryan and Frankie Dettori
Emaraaty Ana: a determined winner of the Gimcrack Stakes for Kevin Ryan and Frankie DettoriCredit: Mark Cranham

North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan saved his first winner of this year's Ebor meeting for the race he knows best as Emaraaty Ana sealed a fourth success for the trainer in the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes.

The Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh-owned juvenile held off the persistent challenge of Legends Of War to make all, joining former stable stars Amadeus Wolf, Blaine and Astaire on the honour roll and sparking Classic dreams for the winter.

The Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 13 is among the possibilities for Emaraaty Ana for the remainder of this season, and Ryan is hoping he has a Qipco 2,000 Guineas contender for next year, for which he was introduced as a general 33-1 chance.

Ryan, with a wonderfully wide grin, said: “He’s going to make into a lovely three-year-old, he should get a mile and could be one for the 2,000 Guineas.

“We’ve always thought him very good. After winning well on debut we were a little disappointed at Newbury, but the ground was a little bit loose that day and he’s still a tad immature.”

A heavy hug was shared between Ryan and Frankie Dettori, who rode the trainer’s first Group winner on Eastern Purple in 1999, and was a late replacement for an ill Jamie Spencer.

It was a second winner on the day for Dettori, described as “just brilliant” by Ryan, and the trainer’s daughter Amy gave a similar reaction to the victory.

Fresh from a morning stint of punditry on Racing UK, she said: “It’s such a thrill to win a big race and Emaraaty Ana is super likeable. He’s got a fantastic attitude and is a gentleman. He’s very straightforward and easy, and a few more like him would be nice.

“They’ll have to rename this race after us soon! It’s a race we like to target and we love it here at York.”

It was a career best effort from the John Gosden-trained Legends Of War, with connections eyeing the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 29.

Kevin Darley, international racing representative to owners Qatar Racing, said: “It was a very good run, a big improvement from his Newbury win and we’re over the moon with him.

“He might be a six-furlong horse as he has plenty of speed and the natural path might be to go for the Middle Park.”

Result and analysis


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Jack HaynesReporter

Published on 24 August 2018inReports

Last updated 16:38, 24 August 2018

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