WAR ARTIST : SA Grade One Winner goes down a Neck

     Assertive and Richard Hannon (sportinglife/thoroughbred-news)              

Last year’s Mercury Sprint hero, War Artist, who came home narrowly ahead of Summerhill-bred, Rebel King, in that event, ran a big race on just his second UK appearance yesterday. The European Bloodstock News reported:

Assertive, a five-year-old son of Gr.1 winning sprinter Bold Edge (Beveled), powered to victory in yesterday’s Gr.2 Duke of York Stakes on the opening day of York’s Dante meeting. He defeated the South African Gr.1 winner War Artist (Orpen) by a neck to record his first Group success after three Listed wins.

The first and second could renew their rivalry in the Gr.1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Bold Edge won the Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, as well as the Gr.2 Diadem Stakes and Gr.2 Cork and Orrery Stakes for his owner/breeder Lady Whent and trainer Richard Hannon, the same team to celebrate success with Assertive.

Click here to watch video of Assertive winning the Duke of York Stakes 2008.