Daiquiri Bay Wins the Ebor as Wathnan Pair Denied in Photo Finish
Daiquiri Bay, a four-year-old gelding trained by Alan King and ridden by Rossa Ryan, won the 2026 Ebor Handicap at York on 22 August, holding off a furious late challenge in a photo finish worth £500,000 BBC Sport.
The 22-runner field went to post at 3:42, and the race was run over one mile and six furlongs on the Knavesmire — the historic name for York's racecourse. Daiquiri Bay crossed the line in 3 minutes 0.61 seconds, slow by just over four seconds against the standard time Racing Post.
George Boughey's Hopewell Rock, sent off at 13-2, finished second in the photo. The William Haggas-trained Opportunity, a 14-1 chance, took third. Both were part of the Wathnan-owned pair denied in a thrilling finish BBC Sport; Racing Post.
The pre-race favourite Love Me Tender, trained by Willie Mullins and priced at 7-2, could only manage tenth BBC Sport.
The Ebor is a flat handicap — a race where better horses carry more weight to level the field — open to horses aged four and older. Staged this year as a Heritage Handicap, it is the richest handicap race in Europe Racing Post.
For Daiquiri Bay, owned by A Stennett, G Kennington & C, the Ebor is the latest chapter in a remarkable upward curve. The horse returned from a layoff with a comeback win at Newmarket before landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2025, where he beat Gamrai by a head BBC Sport; Racing Post. King said his charge broke the track record that day at Ascot BBC Sport.
What makes this stand out is the trajectory. A horse who was finding his feet at Listed handicap level little over a year ago has now won Europe's most valuable handicap. King, better known in some quarters for his jumps operation, has proved with Daiquiri Bay that he can prepare a flat horse to peak on the biggest days.
For Ryan, the Ebor success adds another major prize to a riding CV already bristling with Group 1 wins. The combination of a canny trainer's placement and a jockey's nerve at the business end of a 22-runner cavalry charge is what handicaps at this level reward.
The Ebor Festival, staged across four days at York each August, regularly draws the strongest handicap fields of the flat season. Past winners include Mustajeer, who took the 2019 renewal for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane before going on to race in Australia.
For connections of Daiquiri Bay, the next question is where a horse who has conquered the richest handicap in Europe goes next. Options range from stepping up in class to Pattern races — non-handicap races where horses carry level weights — to freshening up for a autumn campaign. King and his owners have earned the luxury of choice.
