By Sean Cronin
Shadwell's Elmonjed (Blue Point) bounced back off an unplaced effort at Newmarket's Craven meet and completed an afternoon double for William Haggas with a career high in Wednesday's G2 Go Local Stores Minster Stakes, formerly known as the Duke Of York Stakes, at York.
“He really loves this track and I think the draw helped today,” commented Haggas. “He's a really tough horse, he's gone from handicaps and won the Listed in September. We kept him in training to win this race as we thought we may as well have a go at a Group Two. He's in the Wokingham [Handicap at Royal Ascot], but I don't suppose he'll be running in it. I didn't put him in the [G1 Queen Elizabth II] Jubilee, so I suppose we'll have a go at the [G1] Prix Maurice de Gheest. A fast, flat track is what he likes and he needs to go for a Group One now. Whether we put him in the [G1] July Cup we'll see, but the [G1] Nunthorpe is too sharp for him. Maybe the [G1] Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.”
Positioned in rear after a slightly hesitant getaway, last term's Listed Garrowby Stakes victor made headway into contention with a quarter-mile remaining and was driven out once gaining an edge entering the final furlong to defeat the Group 1-winning TDN Rising Star Kind Of Blue (Blue Point) by 1 3/4 lengths. Ed Bethell trainee Regional (Territories), another Group 1 winner, fared best of the remainder and finished 3/4-of-a-length further adrift in the six-furlong dash.
Reflecting on the performance of Kind Of Blue, trainer James Fanshawe said, “I'm very happy with that for his first run back. Last year was really messy, but he's really behaved today and he ran a really good race apart from not winning. We've just had a much clearer run with him this spring. He'll definitely go to Ascot, all being well, if he's in one piece.”
Third home Regional will also target the Royal meet, according to Ed Bethell, who said, “We're delighted with him and he will go straight to Ascot now for the [G1] Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.”
Elmonjed strikes in the £165,000 Group 2 Go Local Stores Minster Stakes! @yorkracecourse @WilliamHaggas pic.twitter.com/8ujAzFLxfk
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 13, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Elmonjed is the third of six reported foals and one of three black-type performers produced by a winning full-sister to dual Group-winning G1 Al Quoz Spring placegetter Ertijaal (Oasis Dream).
His dam Naafer (Oasis Dream) is also a half-sister to G3 Abu Dhabi Championship third Muzdawaj (Dansili) and Listed Rockingham Stakes runner-up Odooj (Pivotal).
The winner is full to a yearling colt and kin to G3 Al Khor third Khanjar (Kodiac) and the dual Listed-placed Pinafore (Dark Angel).
Wednesday, York, Britain
GO LOCAL STORES MINSTER STAKES-G2, £165,000, York, 5-13, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:11.88, gd.
1–ELMONJED (IRE), 136, g, 5, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Naafer (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Shabiba, by Seeking The Gold
3rd Dam: Misterah (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; T-William Haggas; J-William Buick. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 16-7-2-2, $433,261. *1/2 to Khanjar (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), GSP-UAE; and Pinafore (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), SP-Eng & Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kind Of Blue (GB), 136, h, 5, Blue Point (Ire)–Blues Sister (GB), by Compton Place (GB). TDN Rising Star. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Mr & Mrs M Morris, Mr & Mrs P Hopper; T-James Fanshawe. £35,475.
3–Regional (GB), 136, g, 8, Territories (Ire)–Favulusa (GB), by Dansili (GB). (35,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 120,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 3,500gns 3yo '21 TATTJU). O-Future Champions Racing Regional; B-Razza Del Sole Societa Agricola SRL; T-Ed Bethell. £17,754.
Margins: 1, 3/4, NK. Odds: 8.00, 4.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Diligent Harry (GB), Aramram (Ire), Jasour (GB), Big Mojo (Ire), Time For Sandals (Ire), Ain't Nobody (Ire), American Affair (GB), Quinault (Ger), Crestofdistinction (GB), Cool Hoof Luke (GB).
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