FIVE months of triumph and tragedy - just your average season at York Racecourse. STEVE CARROLL takes a look back at the 2014 campaign to date

ULTIMATELY, 17 Knavesmire days will come down to two moments - one of superlatives, another of shock.

Aidan O'Brien claimed Australia had only been ready for a racecourse gallop before he sauntered down the long York straight to walk off with the £800,000Juddmonte International, the track's richest ever race, at the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

While spectators were left open mouthed in admiration at that performance, it was a very different emotion that greeted the defeat of Taghrooda in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

The unbeaten filly was considered unstoppable and sent off at odds to match - a prohibitive 1-5 that only the big punters were tempted to get involved with.

But when she went head to head with Tapestry as the mile and a half contest came to a crescendo, she faltered, and sent her supporters into despair.

They were two events that crowned the four-day Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival, but there were others to treasure.

Sole Power shocked the sport when winning the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes four years ago as a 100-1 outsider. His price was somewhat contracted for the five furlong dash last month - the seven-year-old going off as the 11-4 favourite - but the result was the same.

Champion jockey Richard Hughes had to be patient but Sole Power showed he had lost none of his speed as he begins to advance in years as he came from last to first to see off Stepper Point by half a length in a quite stunning move.

If the Ebor Festival was defined by Australia's victory and Taghrooda's upset, the rest of the 2014 season will be remembered for successes closer to home.

The Grey Gatsby had opened his racecourse account at York, winning a maiden during the busy John Smith's Cup meeting in the summer of 2013.

Now the distinctive-looking colt, trained in the Hambleton hills by Kevin Ryan at Sutton Bank, pulled off something of a surprise when winning the Dante Stakes in May.

Talk of the Derby was soon swept aside as The Grey Gatsby went to Chantilly and won the Prix du Jockey Club. Australia was ultimately too good for him in the International but a runners-up spot crowned a remarkable year for Ryan.

It had seemed there was no other destination for a winner in those early meetings than those who trained in the White Rose county. Victory after victory was fired in to the joyous cries of passionate local support.

They helped Nawton handler David O'Meara build up a commanding lead as he bids to defend the title of York champion trainer he grasped from Richard Fahey, who had held it for seven straight years, last term.

Dutch Rose, Custom Cut, Anderiego - just three of the winners on Knavesmire this year that have helped O'Meara solidify his growing reputation at the summit of the sport.

It's not over yet. Three racedays remain, three chances for new stories to be hold and new heroes to rise.