Temple Meads heads Gimcrack Stakes at York

Temple Meads is the horse to beat in the Group 2, $219,000, Gimcrack Stakes at York on Wednesday, day two of the four-day Ebor Meeting. A modestly bred son of Avonbridge, Temple Meads won the 24-runner Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury a month ago off an 11-week layoff to go to 2 for 2 lifetime and should improve for that strong effort in this six-furlong juvenile contest.

Jimmy Fortune will ride Temple Meads, a colt trained by Ed McMahon who does most of his running late. Serious challenges could emerge from a pair of well-bred rivals coming off recent maiden victories.

Shropshire, a Shamardal half-brother to juvenile Group 3 Round Tower Stakes winner Arctic, was an impressive four-length winner of a six-furlong Haydock maiden in his July 17 debut Michael Hills will ride for his trainer-father, Barry Hills. Gold Pearl, a Kentucky-bred Henny Hughes half-brother to juvenile Group 3 Park Stakes winner Arch Swing, was a second-time-out maiden winner for Stuart Williams going six furlongs at Windsor. Jim Crowley will ride.

A pprove and Formosina are early-season group race winners who have struggled of late. Approve won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but was only fourth in the Group 2 July Stakes and third in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin. Formosina won the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh but was only sixth in the July Stakes.