August 23 / 15.00 York

15.00

Good

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

  • Prize money: £141775
  • 1m 3f 188y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

Form: 11-382

Last run: 61 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Third in the Dante here (1m2f, good to firm) in May; down the field in the Prix du Jockey Club but resumed his improvement when second of six in Group 2 Edward VII at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) two months ago, beating Artistic Star by two and a half lengths in the process; a leading contender on form and potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Continuous

9st 9lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Won the St Leger and fifth in the Arc in 2023 but has failed to repeat the form since and is reduced to pacemaking duties these days; as in the Coronation Cup two starts ago, looks set to cut out the fractions for stablemate Jan Brueghel before eventually being swallowed up.

125/1

8th

3

(7)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

2023 was his heyday, when winning the St Leger and fifth in the Arc; career has taken some disappointing turns since last autumn and he could be set for a front-running role at a big price today, as on his last two starts.

100/1

4

(4)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Ended his 2023 campaign with a success in the St Leger and good effort in the Arc; modest strike-rate since and has become inconsistent too; possibly in here as pacemaker for stablemate Jan Brueghel.

66/1

Form: 141-11

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to high-class miler Palace Pier; proved himself at 1m2f as a 2yo and this season made further progress to win a Listed race at Newmarket (1m2f, good) in May and Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f, good to firm) in July; ridden prominently in both and kept on very stoutly to prevail in a tight, three-way finish last time, with a line through the third giving him a slight form edge over Gregory; firmly in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(3)

3rd May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Newmarket

Castle Way

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Yet to race on ground softer than good; gelded prior to excusable Meydan defeat two months ago (endoscopic exam revealed a degree of EIPH which may have affected performance); progressive on British soil and has a record of 3-4 at the Newmarket tracks, including wins in Listed event on this card last year and Bahrain Trophy in July; remains of major interest.

11/4

6th

2

(3)

3rd May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Newmarket

Castle Way

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Yet to race on ground softer than good; gelded prior to excusable Meydan defeat two months ago (endoscopic exam revealed a degree of EIPH which may have affected performance); progressive on British soil and has a record of 3-4 at the Newmarket tracks, including wins in Listed event on this card last year and Bahrain Trophy in July; remains of major interest.

11/4

2nd

4

(1)

23rd Aug 2023

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Castle Way

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

in touch with leaders

7/2

Form: 111 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in novice at Haydock (11.6f) in April, Listed race at Goodwood (1m3f) in May and Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f) in June, all on good ground; evens when making most in a 14-runner race for the last named, always just in charge as he saw off his only serious challenger; stays well, as predicted by his pedigree, so this 2f drop back in trip asks a question, but he's a high-class prospect and surely capable of further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Gregory

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.

11/4

3rd

3

(1)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Gregory

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his five races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only disappointing show and he followed that with career-best form when third in the 2m Goodwood Cup late last month; effective here and he's one of the several leading candidates on form.

9/2

3rd

3

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Gregory

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; ran creditably while put in his place on next three starts, including when third in the Yorkshire Cup at York in May when shaping as if further would suit; failed to prove that with a tame show in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (15-2), which was disappointing notwithstanding the 2m4f; this is his first go at 2m.

9/1

16/1

Form: 1-1734

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won his first two starts; came from well behind when 11l seventh in the Derby at Epsom and always prominent when third of six (Continuous second) in King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, both 1m4f on good to firm; fourth of six in Group 3 at Goodwood (1m4f, soft; Canberra Legend third) three weeks ago was his first backward step and he needs to resume improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 44y

Class 2

18:45 Salisbury

Artistic Star

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Without a win since May 2023 and only four ran when second in a 2m Newbury handicap in July; new cheekpieces did nothing for him when down the field at York last time and he now goes in blinkers.

6/1

2

(8)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Artistic Star

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Ran creditably on good to firm ground on his first and penultimate turf attempts this season; beaten a neck by Almuhit over 2m in the latter but in just a four-runner race; edging down the weights but others are a bit more persuasive; no win since May 2023 and connections turn to headgear.

14/1

5th

5

(7)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:55 Goodwood

Artistic Star

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Ran respectably on soft here two years ago; downgraded from Group contests to handicaps for last five outings, running creditably on first and latest attempts this season; they were over 1m6f and 2m, beaten a neck last time but in just a four-runner race; this event is more competitive.

18/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11953

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Half-brother Youth Spirit was third in this race in 2021; second win was a Listed contest at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; disappointing in the Dante at York but back on song when fifth of 16 in Group 3 at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) and third of six in Group 3 at Goodwood (1m4f, soft; Artistic Star fourth); needs better still to take this, which is what the same connections' Deauville Legend managed in it 12 months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

23rd Aug 2023

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Canberra Legend

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Half-brother Youth Spirit was third in this race in 2021; second win was a Listed contest at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; disappointing in the Dante at York but back on song when fifth of 16 in Group 3 at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) and third of six in Group 3 at Goodwood (1m4f, soft; Artistic Star fourth); needs better still to take this, which is what the same connections' Deauville Legend managed in it 12 months ago.

16/1

3rd

3

(1)

3rd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Canberra Legend

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Half-brother Youth Spirit was fourth in this race in 2021; second win was a Listed contest at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; disappointing in the Dante at York but back on song when fifth of 16 in Group 3 at Royal Ascot, both about 1m2f on good to firm; stuck to his task admirably last time as if well worth a crack at 1m4f.

13/2

5th

5

(6)

22nd Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Canberra Legend

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Won on debut at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February and finished well to follow up in Listed race at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; something to prove after his Group 2 Dante disappointment (10.2f, good to firm) but that's not his true form and he retains potential.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £26.78

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Gregory

SPOTLIGHT:

Continuous

Daily Mirror:

Castle Way

POSTDATA:

Canberra Legend

NEWMARKET:

Gregory

The Times:

Gregory

Telegraph:

Gregory

The Guardian:

Gregory

Daily Mail:

Gregory

The Star:

Gregory

RP RATINGS:

Continuous

D Express:

Continuous

The Sun:

Continuous

Daily Record:

Continuous