Dominant York Stakes victory for Item

Item (Frankel) bounced back to form at York, forging clear in the straight to take the Gr.2 York Stakes on Saturday (25th July).

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 26th July 2026:

The only three-year-old amongst the five runners, he took a lead from Pride Of Arras, settling well in second on the inside with the favourite Damysus (Frankel) racing enthusiastically in rear. Hitting a flat spot with half a mile to run, Item found the perfect run on the rail and responded generously to pick it up inside the two furlong pole. Lengthening away from his rivals, he was comfortably on top at the finish by two and three quarter lengths from Pride Of Arras with a further half a length back to Damysus, who stayed on but couldn’t go with the winner.

Things didn't go to plan in testing conditions in the Gr.1 Derby at Epsom, but he was previously unbeaten three from three, including in the Gr.2 Dante Stakes over yesterday’s track and trip. He began his career with a win at Kempton at two. He followed up under a penalty at Bath before taking York’s key Derby Trial in promising fashion. A return to better ground appears to have been the trick for the regally-bred three-year-old, who holds big entries. Most notably, he is in the Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes, which looks a fair target after yesterday’s Gr.2 success, though a return to 12 furlongs in these conditions looks well within his capabilities.

Out of the Gr.1 Natalma Stakes winner Capla Temptress, he is one of three winners she has produced to date, also including the Listed Prix Matchem winner Temptable (Kingman).