3YO Championship held at York Raceway

Coalford Goodfella (Henry Hill) landed the harness racing spoils with a last to first victory in the prestigious York 3YO Championships at York Harness Raceway (June 17) in the United Kingdom, expertly driven by catch driver Richard Haythornthwaite in an impressive winning time of 1.59.9.

Ten top class colts from the UK and Ireland lined up behind the starting gate for the summers first major hard track stakes in the glamour boy division.

Toreador crossed over to lead out from post 3, with Born In Lockdown caught first up and the field of 10 sitting tightly bunched 6 in and 4 out going through a lightning :27 second opening quarter.

The half was reached in a lively :58 seconds, with Ishotthesherriff coming 3 wide from the back of the pack to improve position and join the leader Toreador as they swung past the three-quarters in 1:29.2.

As the field remained tightly bunched up at the three quarters, the cavalry charge came and Coalford Goodfella, who had been kept quiet at the back of the field from his 8-post position, ran 4 wide through the final turn to win going away down the homestretch by one and three-quarter lengths.

Top Dollar stayed on well for second with Oakwood Hey Miki coming with a good late run from a bad post to claim 3rd.

Coalford Goodfella, a son of first crop sire sensation Henry Hill (a son of Roll with Joe with a 1.50 3YO winning mark, formerly trained by Tony Alagna), has now won all three starts at York Harness Raceway this season for his owner Coalford Stud of Co. Durham and trainer Joseph Maw.

Henry Hill is off to a very impressive start in the breeding shed, with his 3YO son IshottheSherrif taking the Scottish 3YO Derby in very impressive fashion two weeks earlier at Haugh Field Stirling, alongside other 3YO winners Coalford Topguy, Coalford Hitman and Coalford Mademan.

Tbe stakes season continues Saturday 24th with the prestigious North Wales Harness Owners Association Stakes, a top-class night of stakes racing at Tir Prince Raceway in Wales, featuring multiple Group 2 events for 4YO, 3YO and 2YO stakes action.

by Tracey Maw, for Coalford Stud