Carrying the colours of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, King Of Cities was ridden by Sean Levey and trained by Richard Hannon, who said afterwards that the colt had the temperament of a horse who would travel abroad and the $1million Bahrain International Trophy could be on the agenda.

This year’s renewal of the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes was a typically competitive one with little over a length covering the first four horses home in the eight-runner field. At the line, King Of Cities had a head to spare over Boiling Point, in the same owner’s colours as the winner, with Skukusa, the mount of Ryan Moore for trainer Ed Dunlop, possibly unlucky back in third.

The combination of fast ground and the step up in trip to 1800m from 1600m appeared to bring about an improvement in form from King Of Cities, a home-bred who hails from a family of high-class horses and is a son of leading sire, Dubawi.

Speaking afterwards to Racing TV, jockey Sean Levey, said the race had not gone as he had planned. “I wanted to make the running, but as soon as the gates opened, he stood there for a second but luckily enough we were able to get a good position and at the two-furlong marker he looked like he might be dominant, but he’s probably just an intelligent horse who keeps a little up his sleeve. He showed he has a lot of ability.”

The Bahrain Turf Club’s partnership with the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes been a fruitful one with past winners including Spirit Dancer, the subsequent two-time winner of the Bahrain International Trophy, and last year’s runner-up, Phantom Flight, going on to win the Crown Prince’s Cup in January.

William Derby, York Racecourse Chief Executive, said: “We are very proud that York’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival has acquired a profile on the international stage befitting a global racing carnival.

“In part this is due to the work we have done with racing clubs around the world, putting on bonuses on and providing automatic invites. Consequently, the meeting has become a springboard for the best horses in Europe to go and compete in major races abroad.

“The Sky Bet Strensall Stakes is a case in point. Through our partnership with the Bahrain Turf Club, the winner secures an automatic invite to the $1million Bahrain International Trophy and the opportunity to follow in the hoofprints past Strensall Stakes victor, Spirit Dancer, who has won Bahrain’s most valuable race for the last two years.

“I was fortunate enough to make my first visit to the Bahrain International Trophy last year and could not have been more impressed with the warmth, friendliness, ambition and plans of the Bahrain Turf Club. I would encourage all connections and race fans to consider making a trip to Bahrain.”

This year’s running of the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy, worth $1million, takes place on Friday 14 November. Entries for the race close on Wednesday 1 October and the final race to carry an automatic invite is the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, held at Leopardstown on Saturday 13 September and the feature event of Irish Champions Weekend.