Dream run eludes Satono Reve at York

On Saturday, Aug. 22, sprint specialist Satono Reve, Japan’s first runner in the 1,400-meter Group 1 City of York Stakes, failed to score his elusive first big win abroad from seven previous attempts. On top of that, the City of York Stakes also ended Satono Reve’s streak of four finishes in the top three this year, all in top-level competition.

Starting the year with a back-to-back win of the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in late March, the Lord Kanaloa 7-year-old ran second to superstar Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1, 1,200, turf), then scored another second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, followed by a third in the July Cup at Newmarket.

The City of York Stakes, staged at the lefthanded York Racecourse some 200 km north of London, attracted a field of 14 and got under at about 3 p.m. The 5-year-old six-time G1 winner Notable Speech (under William Buick) claimed first place. The Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned winner was followed over the line by Lake Forest (also 5 years old) in second place, and the 4-year-colt Marvelman in third place. 

Satono Reve scored a disappointing ninth-place finish amid 14 runners over good to soft going. Trained by Noriyuki Hori, the Miho-based Satono Reve began showing signs of slight annoyance in the pre-parade ring and later refused repeatedly to enter the gate. Satono Reve was finally coaxed in with a hood over his head.

He broke decently from the No. 4 gate and did keep in touch with the leaders. Though he had to be checked just 200 meters in, there seemed to be little consequence. Things looked hopeful with 2 furlongs to go but Satono Reve weakened over the final furlong. Taking on his first race in 14 starts that was longer than 6 furlongs, the extra distance may have been a factor in a disappointing ninth-place finish. Rider Moreira blamed neither the ground nor the distance, but wrote off the loss to the horse just not feeling his best. Moreira put it simply. “He wasn’t himself.”

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York racecourse
Result: BHA , Racing Post