Copper Knight - The York Record Breaker!
Thu 19 Aug 2021
WINNER 65 OF 2021: COPPER KNIGHT, trained by Tim Easterby and ridden by David Allan: The Class 2 'Sky Bet and Symphony Group Handicap' over 5 1/2f at the York Ebor Festival.
We're back with that cliché again, but this time it's a record breaking "horses for courses," as yesterday, Copper Knight became the winning most horse at York! He broke smartly and was prominent on the far side of the group, going on to lead and travelling easily over 2f out. He got a shake up at the 1 pole from David and he kept on really well as the field tried to chase him down, to win by 3/4 of a length.
It was his sixth course win at a track that has a reputation as being difficult to win at and the Ebor Festival is full of talented horses in competitive races, so the way he won yesterday, live on ITV Racing, was a real thrill for his owners.
It proved a most popular win from all the social media attention and admiration for the 7 year old, as you can see...
"He's got the heart of a lion!" Watch the full replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/350065-sky-bet-and-symphony-group-handicap-2
David said in his ITV Racing interview:
Timeform rated it as a 106 performance, saying: "...roared back to form, going one better than in a Racing League event the time before in recording his sixth win at York (his second big-field handicap win here this year), and there was more than a degree of comfort about it, too; chased leaders, travelled well, led over 2f out, drew clear 1f out, closed down only late on.”
and renowned racing artist Darren 'Birdie' Bird created this!:
See the official photos from John Grossick here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385198828/x1-copper-knight
and from Hannah Ali here: https://www.yorkracecoursephotos.co.uk/portfolio521573.html
Well done to his owners and to Tim Easterby. A Festival winner is always a treat! Here he is back home enjoying his well deserved supper.
Thank you to York for looking after our owners so well yesterday, who all enjoyed a fantastic lunch too.
Read the Racing Post story here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/race-reports/its-good-to-be-in-a-crowd-racegoers-flock-back-for-ebor-meeting/506264