Mustajeer bags Cup ticket as York's great old race is reborn in the sun

For the connections of Mustajeer this was an extremely good day. For York and its signature horserace there was every bit as much reason to be pleased. For this was the day when a year-long plan came together and a 176-year-old contest was reborn.

Twelve months ago, when the Sky Bet Ebor was staged for a record £500,000, Mustajeer ran with enormous credit to finish fourth. Connections immediately resolved to return on this afternoon and upgrade fourth to first. That is what they wanted and that is what happened, with Mustajeer, dropped 3lb this season and back on his 2018 Ebor rating, proving too strong for his 21 rivals and landing the first £1 million running of the great old race.

Although still very great and very old the Ebor is also now very new. That was seen not only in the prize-money – never before had a northern hemisphere Flat handicap been staged for a seven-figure sum – but in all the paraphernalia that made this truly feel something out of the ordinary.