State ready to Star on the Knavesmire

Thursday marks the second day of the four-day Ebor Festival at York’s Knavesmire, with a focus on the fillies and mares racing. Another 19 two-year-old fillies will compete in the Group Two Lowther Stakes at 1:50pm. The ground has been a subject of discussion, as Wednesday's races indicated it may be slower than anticipated, given that most of the season's form came on faster ground.

Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle believe STAR OF STATE could be the standout contender for the feature race. While Libertango is a favorite, she has primarily raced on good-to-firm ground, and Juddmonte’s Livenka has only trained on good conditions. Joseph O’Brien spots an opportunity for STAR OF STATE to continue her upward trajectory and secure a statement win at the Ebor Festival.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Oaks, a feature race, will take place at 3:00pm, with Centagra considered the favorite. However, HAWKSBILL, ridden by Richard Spencer, presents an intriguing alternative. He has shown promise in his seven races since joining Spencer’s team, finishing well in the Golden Mile at Goodwood. Another mention is CHECKANDCHALLENGE for William Knight, priced at 20/1, who is a consistent handicapper over the years.

MIRKSY is another filly with strong course and distance credentials, having finished second in the race two years ago. He can challenge for a place in the Quinella with Hawksbill and Checkandchallenge.