'It feels like a real fitting place to finish' - popular nine-year-old in line for 60th and final start at next week's Ebor meeting

William Knight’s stable stalwart Sir Busker is set to make his final appearance on Saturday week at York.

The nine-year-old has made the frame on all four of his starts at York’s Ebor festival, therefore it is fitting that he will likely bow out at that meeting.

A Royal Ascot winner courtesy of his success in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap, a consolation race staged in the behind-closed-doors 2020 fixture due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sir Busker will aim to repeat last season’s win in the Sky Bet Steve Birch Finale Handicap.

The Kennet Valley Syndicates-owned gelding is rated 5lb lower than when successful in the last race of the Ebor meeting 12 months ago. Kennet Valley’s racing manager Sam Hoskins said: “The idea is to run him in the Finale Handicap. We'll try and win it again this year and that may be his last race.”

Sir Busker’s highest-profile victory came in the 2022 Group 2 York Stakes, a month before he finished third behind Baaeed back at the Knavesmire in the Juddmonte International.

Sir Busker: winner of seven of his 59 racesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sir Busker also filled the same position in the 2021 Queen Anne Stakes, and on the prospect of the gelding bowing out at his winningmost track, Hoskins said: “He absolutely loves York – that long straight there really suits him – and it does feel a real fitting place to finish it off.

“We’ve had some great days at York in the past, not just with him, and we love going there and his finale in the ‘Finale’ seems very appropriate.”

Sir Busker has won seven of his 59 starts in five different countries, earning more than £660,000 in the process. Knight said: “He’s been a wonderful horse for us. He’s given Kennet Valley, the team at home and me a lot of pleasure over the years.

“He owes us nothing and it would be nice to go there and see him run a massive race for everyone involved.”

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