Remarkable Quinault sets up Group 1 date at Ebor meeting with impressive front-running win in £100,000 Criterion

Quinault teed up a return to the highest level when he earned his Group-race breakthrough with a fine front-running performance in the Criterion Stakes.

The Stuart Williams-trained five-year-old is no stranger to remarkable feats, having rattled off a six-timer in 2023, but had been beaten in his previous tries at Group level. However, he made his mark in that company for the first time after leading his rivals a merry dance under Jason Hart to win by a length.

Williams said: "He's just a high-class horse who loves to win. Once he gets in front and gets rolling along at a place like this, he's hard to catch.

"He's a fast horse and on his dam's side, he's definitely bred to go a bit further. Tom [Morley, joint-owner] and I continually have this argument whether he's best over a stiff six furlongs or an easy seven, but I think it's probably either."

Quinault maintained his perfect York record with a third track success in the £100,000 Group 3, which was run on the Knavesmire for the first time having previously been staged at Newmarket.

He was cut to 16-1 (from 50s) by Paddy Power for the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, although Williams already has his eyes set on a return to Yorkshire for the newly upgraded City of York Stakes at the Ebor meeting.

He said: "We'd like to come back here in August as this was a win-and-you're-in race for it. We'll aim for that and work back from there. He tries very hard and that's the key to it.

"It's his first Group win and it means a lot. I took him to Dubai in the winter and ran him in a Group 1 as we've always thought he was capable of this sort of thing."

Archivist files another first

Archivist was cut to single-figure odds for the John Smith's Cup after his narrow win in the mile handicap, but a return to the Knavesmire next month is far from certain.

Cheveley Park's three-year-old was shortened to 7-1 (from 12s) for the prestigious handicap by Paddy Power after his length win under Tom Marquand. 

However, winning trainer William Haggas's assistant and wife Maureen, said: "The John Smith's Cup may come too soon and we possibly may be better to stick at a mile, even though Tom took a while to pull him up. 

"A stronger pace may see him to better effect as I don't think the slow early pace suited him that well and it took him a while to get going.

"He wandered about and he's still a work in progress, but is improving with every run. There's a bit more to come and he could make into a really nice four-year-old."

Track love-in

Squealer's owners love the track so much they bought an apartment in the adjacent old Terry's Chocolate factory, and they were given a homely gift in the 5f handicap.

The five-year-old's three-quarters of a length win completed a valuable sprint double in 24 hours for winning trainer Nigel Tinkler, who also landed the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle on Friday night with Paddy's Day.

Tinkler said: "With the second [JM Jungle] winning at Epsom, it swapped the weights around a bit and he's only got one run of 100 yards. The owners [Martin Webb Racing] have got that flat just for York, so we're so delighted. We just want Duran to win at the Curragh tomorrow now!"

Another brilliant Burke juvenile?

Karl Burke added another potential top-class juvenile to his ranks with Hankelow's impressive debut in the 7f novice race.

The 750,000gns purchase cleared away for a two-and-a-quarter-length win under Clifford Lee, leaving Burke confident he can make his mark at a higher level.

He said: "He's never even had a gallop away from home, but is a beautiful horse. He's entitled to be as he cost a lot of money. He's shown plenty of ability at home without overdoing himself and he'll improve a bundle too. I'd say he's a Group horse in the making."

Murphy double

Oisin Murphy, who will appear in court on Thursday charged with drink driving and failing to cooperate with a roadside test, landed a rapid double on Turquino in the 1m6f handicap and Dream Out Loud in the 6f handicap, both for the in-form Andrew Balding.

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