Juddmonte on agenda for Thundering Blue after victory in Group 2 feature

The idea that York, notionally as fair as any track in the country, nonetheless lends itself to specialists got a bit more air in its tyres in the early stages of one of the course's biggest Saturday cards.

The first two winners, Get Knotted and Flying Pursuit, were both repeating wins in races they were successful in last year (Get Knotted was completing a hat-trick in his race), while Sky Bet York Stakes winner Thundering Blue was arriving on the back of a narrow second in the John Smith's Cup over course and distance two weeks ago.

The York Stakes delivered a thrilling finish, in which favourite Elarqam, who had led all the way and seemed the likeliest winner for most of the race, gave way late on to Brorocco before Thundering Blue swooped.