Yibir back on top in G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes

Yibir bounced back to form as he galloped out powerfully to capture the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes over a mile and a half at York, UK, on Wednesday, 18 August.

The son of Dubawi performed well in Derby trials earlier this season before winning the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July but faded to sixth after racing keenly on his latest outing in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Held up at the rear of the eight runners by James Doyle, Yibir still had the entire field in front of him with three furlongs to race.

The Godolphin homebred showed good acceleration between horses just inside the final quarter-mile and took up the running from long-time leader The Mediterranean passing the furlong-pole.

Yibir stayed on strongly all the way to the line for a length and a quarter success over The Mediterranean, with a further half-length back to Youth Spirit in third.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “We have always held Yibir in high regard because he is such a powerful mover in the mornings. I have to give a lot of credit to Shane Fetherstonhaugh, who rides him, and all the team at home who have handled him.

“The plan was always to leave the hood on today, bury him and get him racing the right way round. He is gelded, so we plan to have him around hopefully for the next few years and I thought it was important to get him racing back in the right manner.

“He is in the G1 Irish St Leger and we will let the dust settle first. One of our potential plans was to go to North America with him for the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park next month. I think he would take a lot of experience there – he hasn’t missed a beat this year and is a horse with some constitution. Hopefully, he can become one of those fun international campaigners.”

James Doyle added: “When Yibir is like he was today and in the Bahrain Trophy, he is pretty straightforward. He drops his head and relaxes really well. Unfortunately, Will [Buick] didn’t get the best of times at Goodwood, for whatever reason.

“We didn’t take any chances today. Charlie elected to put the hood on and Yibir had been training well in it at home. We wanted to get the first part of the race right and then build away from there. It couldn’t have worked out much better, really.

“He has won the Bahrain Trophy and stays very well, but he has got quite a potent kick. If they ran good sectionals over a mile and a half in America, it would play to his strengths because he has the tactical speed to travel wherever.”