Five-furlong sprints used to be the dominion of the powerhouse colts and geldings, but recent years have seen a shift in the dynamic and that could hardly be better expressed than the line-up for Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York. Four of the top five in the betting are fillies or mares and that doesn't even include last year's impressive winner Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who trades around the 20-1 mark which would have been inconceivable following her career-best here 12 months ago.
Unusually, position of hot favourite is filled by a 3-year-old with only three career starts to her name, but in a renewal lacking a standout Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) is one of those that will continue to attract support until the bubble bursts. The rapid juvenile The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), the the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and the 'TDN Rising Star' Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) complete the formidable distaff cast in a fascinating clash.
Strangely, the Listed City Walls S. seems to be the key piece of form again as it was in 2021 when Winter Power served notice of her prowess over this fast five-furlong strip. This time, Winter Power had to surrender as Royal Aclaim took up the mantle with an impressive display July 9 and it is easy to see why the punters have been seduced by the filly who bids to provide her owner with a notable Ebor Festival double following the Lowther win of Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) on Thursday. “I've got every confidence in her and in her ability, but at the end of the day she's an animal and she's got to have some luck in running,” trainer James Tate told QIPCO British Champions Series.
“She's the least experienced runner in the field, and that includes the 2-year-old, but she's like nothing we've ever had through our stable gates before–she's completely different,” Tate added. “In three runs, she's achieved a rating of 108 and beaten two Group 1 winners. Yet, to be quite honest with you, she's never been fully fit, as she is now. I expected her to win at York but I didn't know she'd win quite as easily as that, given that she wasn't 100% fit. It was obvious after a furlong or two that she would win. For a filly to win a Nunthorpe she probably needs to be something like 114, and the six pounds she needs to improve on the York form is just two lengths. Can she improve two lengths? I really think and hope so.”
Queen Bee?
Two-year-olds added to this mix always create an extra vibe and this time it is a strange one, with Middleham Park Racing's The Platinum Queen entering the fray with no black-type to boast of. Only 13th behind Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) on her sole attempt in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot on June 15, the bay proved that running all wrong with powerful displays in a novice over this course and distance July 8 and in Goodwood's Alice Keppel Conditions S. July 27, where she broke the juvenile track record set minutes earlier in the Molecomb by Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never). With all the weight-for-age and sex allowances in her favour, she has the significant bonus of Hollie Doyle in the saddle as she bids to emulate Lyric Fantasy (Ire) (Tate Gallery) who was the last juvenile filly to succeed 30 years ago. Acapulco (Scat Daddy) was second in 2015, so the portents are strong for a big effort. “She's improved with racing, which we thought she would. She just wants to go faster all the time, so we're trying to channel that but she's in great nick,” trainer Richard Fahey said. “It's extremely game of the owners, I hope they get a run for their money–I'm sure they will.”
Beware The Princess
Very few sprinters can come off success in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and follow up here over five, but Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is looking increasingly a sprinter that is capable of the unusual. Showing the kind of pace at Deauville Aug. 7 that would have been potent over the minimum, she did the same on this track when taking the G2 1895 Duke of York S. May 11 and will be giving her all once again. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Flotus is another aggressive front-runner reverting to five, having scored at the track in the G3 Summer S. last time July 8 and tried this trip just the once. Of the remainder, the July 29 G2 King George S. one-two Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Raasel (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) come into play in along with 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), who was third here 12 months ago and who has enjoyed a confidence boost in a Hamilton conditions event July 30.
What Next From Stradivarius?
There is no longer-running retirement story than that of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), with Bjorn Nielsen seeming to further extend the date each time he is interviewed. After the 8-year-old's superb performance when touched off in the July 26 G1 Goodwood Cup, it is not hard to see why he should want to extend the brilliant career of the horse so endeared to the York faithful. Frankie had waved them goodbye after the May 13 G2 Yorkshire Cup, but in a twist the chestnut returns to the Knavesmire under Andrea Atzeni for what may not even be his final visit on Friday. Already successful six times from six outings here, including in three renewals of the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, one of history's elite stayers looks set to have his desired fast ground with the storms so far missing York. “He's enjoying life as much as ever and he's bouncing around the place,” John Gosden commented. “He's got a pretty good record at most tracks, but York obviously suits him particularly well with it's long straight and he's never been beaten there.”
King Waits Again
In what has become a perpetual state for Alan King, he waits on the rain for Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) with more hope than expectation. Having finally bent to running the G1 Prix du Cadran and G1 Goodwood Cup hero on ground quicker than ideal in defence of his crown in the latter contest on the Sussex Downs, the trainer was rewarded with a third behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius which was commendable but probably below his exalted standard when the ground is testing. “He'll only run if it rains, it's as simple as that,” he said in his latest update. “There's some rain coming through, but we don't know what quantity so we'll just have to see what the morning brings.” Fourth in the Goodwood Cup, Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is one who could yet emerge as a threat even if Trueshan is absent, which also applies to Lady Blyth's G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and G3 Henry II S. winner Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in a strong edition set to test Stradivarius's endurance more than the betting would suggest.
Royal Standard In The Gimcrack
There is a fascinating G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. in prospect, with the Hays' impressive G2 Richmond S. winner Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) needing to defy a three-pound penalty as a result of his Goodwood exploits July 28. That was no hindrance to Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) last year and to Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) in 2001, so if the best that has passed through the Whatcombe stable of the Coles for some time follows suit we are talking about a genuine Group 1 performer in the making. “He's in very good form and we think he's improved since Goodwood. Physically we think he looks bigger,” Oliver Cole warned. “We just thought travel-wise it was easier to go to York than Deauville [for the Morny] and we're thinking about the future with him. He handled quick ground in the Richmond and I think there was bit of cut in the ground the day he won his maiden there, so I think he's pretty versatile.”
The Triple Threat
While Royal Scotsman gives all the signals that he is top-class, he will certainly have to prove it here taken on by a trio of unbeaten colts who have all flashed major talent. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) had Royal Scotsman back in fourth on debut at Ascot May 7 and was ante-post favourite for the Coventry in which the Coles' runner ended up third, only to miss out due to a setback. His return defeat of Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) over this six-furlong trip at Newmarket July 29 was boosted by the runner-up's effort in a strong renewal of the G3 Acomb S. on Wednesday and Charlie Appleby is hoping he can follow through on his significant early promise. “He looked very smart when winning his maiden at Ascot, but I was not entirely happy with him coming into the Royal meeting so we missed his intended target there,” he explained. “I'm a believer that sometimes missing those type of races in the summer can benefit them in the second half of the season. He had his break, then he came back under a penalty in a Newmarket novice. We got the job done but, most importantly, we could see improvement for that run. His work has been good. He's definitely come on for that experience. The Gimcrack is the right race for him now, but in time, I think he will benefit for stepping up in trip.”
Burke Has Another Strong Hand
After Thursday's G2 Lowther S., it is increasingly essential to pay due diligence to the entries of Karl Burke in the 2022 pattern races for 2-year-olds and his duo here are headed by Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's well-regarded unbeaten Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}). Denied a crack at Royal Scotsman in the Richmond due to a setback, arguably the best out so far from the first crop of his talented sire is here just a week after his 8 1/2-length success in a Thirsk novice over this trip Aug. 12. “We always thought Marshman was a nice horse, but he showed us a bit more than what he had been doing at home when he got left in the stalls first time out and still absolutely bolted up,” Burke said. “The Richmond might not have worked out for us anyway, but he was lame on the morning of the race and I was keen to get another run into him then before we went for a black-type race. He took us a little bit by surprise with how he did it at Thirsk. We weren't surprised that he won, but it was a very good performance on the clock and obviously visually it was very good as well.”
Making A Point
Richard Fahey saddles the third colt with a two-for-two record in the Gimcrack, with Clearpoint (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) by the same sire and carrying the same Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum silks as the stable's dual triple Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire). His form stands up well against Marshman from his novice win on debut at Ayr May 30 and he was able to defy a penalty dropping back to five furlongs in a novice at Newcastle June 25. “It's a good Gimcrack this year, it's probably the best Gimcrack I've seen for years,” Fahey commented. “I do like the horse though and we'll find out on Friday where we are with him.”
Also…
York's valuable British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden S. sees a line-up of 20, with Ballydoyle responsible for the Aug. 6 Curragh maiden runner-up Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the race they used to introduce Stravinsky in 1998. At Salisbury, Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) puts his reputation on the line in the Listed Longines Irish Champions Weekend 10-11 September EBF Stonehenge S. Off the mark by 9 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong novice at Sandown July 27, the relative of Lammtarra looks a genuine Derby prospect at present.
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