Dubai: Red hot jockey Ryan Moore could be handed the chance to win back-to-back Melbourne Cups later in the year, after delivering an exuberant ride aboard Snow Sky to win a thrilling renewal of the Yorkshire Cup (G2) on the final day of the Dante Festival at York on Friday.
Snow Sky’s handler Sir Michael Stoute singled out Australia’s most famous race as the definitive target for his stayer after he repelled the 13/8 favourite Brown Panther to win the York showpiece by half a length.
Havana Beat, who finished fourth behind Brown Panther in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) at Meydan in March, was a length a half back in third while Godolphin’s Romsdal, the St Leger (G1) runner-up and Epsom Derby (G1) third, finished fourth.
Moore won the A$6.2 million (Dh18.4 million) Melbourne Cup last November aboard the Andreas Wohler-trainer Protectionist, and has amassed seven Group prizes this season.
“For his first run of the year he needed to tough it out and he did,” he told Channel 4 Racing. “He’s been a little bit late getting going, so he’s done well to win here early on.”
Snow Sky also handed Stoute and Moore a second successful Yorkshire Cup following Gospel Choir twelve months ago.
“He’s a very courageous horse, he had to dig deep,” said Stoute. “Ryan said he was in front a bit soon and he just looked about a bit, but I’m thrilled.
“I think a mile and six is his limit, and he’s a very effective horse over a mile and a half.”
Asked if there was any race in the calendar that he wanted to aim the son of Halling, Stoute said: “I think I’d like to finish up in Melbourne (Melbourne Cup), I think it would be worth throwing a dart.
“[However] we need to stop and think how we are going to programme him now.”
Former England footballer Michael Owen, who bred and owns Brown Panther, added: “We’re thrilled, the penalty has just cost him in the end. The winner won on merit, he was given a great ride and is trained by a great trainer so he’s lost nothing in defeat.
“We’re disappointed but not sickened as he’s run a great race.
“Myself and Andrew (Black) said it would be Dubai and Ascot with a race in between, so it’s the Ascot Gold Cup next and then we’ll plan the second half of the season.”
Snow Sky and Brown Panther look set to renew their rivalry in Ascot’s famous staying contest on June 18, a race for which they are both priced at 6/1 on the ante-post markets.
Brown Panther finished a close fourth behind Leading Light, Estimate and Missunited, in the race last season.
