G1 Nunthorpe S | Horse Racing Free Tips

Stellar Yorkshire Oaks in Store on the Knavesmire

Day 2 of York's Ebor Festival plays host to a stellar edition of the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks and features a mouthwatering rematch between the G1 Irish Oaks first and second Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). The former's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has annexed six editions since the turn of the century, but is still three shy of the record nine held jointly by Mathew Dawson and Sir Michael Stoute. Savethelastdance's three career wins, which include a 22-length romp in May's Listed Cheshire Oaks, have all played out with ease underfoot and drying conditions on the Knavesmire replicate the good-to-firm going she encountered when second in Epsom's G1 Oaks.

O'Brien, who is also represented by G2 Ribblesdale S. victrix and Irish Oaks fifth Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), considers pace, rather than going, key to a bold showing from the stable's star distaffer and commented, “I think York will suit her as it's a big, galloping track, and that's why York suits a very good horse. There's no messing there and the rhythm usually gets going early. She's a big, genuine filly who gets a mile-and-a-half very well. Ideally, she might have preferred a stronger pace at the Curragh as she gets into a big, rolling gallop. Ryan [Moore] didn't panic when the pace started to quicken and she started to get a little bit flat with him, so he gave her time to get into gear. He felt he won very well on her and it's a difficult thing for a jockey when everyone is going away from you. He gave her chance to go through the gears and he felt when she hit top gear that she would mow them down.”

Bluestocking, who was set fair for victory in Ireland only to be collared in the dying strides is displaying positive signs at home, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. “Bluestocking worked well on Friday and we are happy,” he said. “It's the right spot for her and, at her level, there aren't many alternatives. She's Group 1-placed and not eligible for [Thursday's Listed] Galtres.”

The Classic generation's contenders face an ominous threat from their elders, which includes George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has finished off the board in both starts since registering a fourth pattern-race victory in May's G2 Middleton S. over an extended 10 furlongs at this venue, and Shadwell's G1 Nassau S. heroine Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has twice downed Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) this term for Roger Varian. The former seeks a fifth win in the contest for the Gosden stable, two of which were provided by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Al Husn stretches out to 12 furlongs for the first time and it is very much a venture into the unknown according to racing manager Angus Gold. “She hasn't run over this trip before and nobody has ever said to me that they think she wants further,” he revealed. “She's so tough and it's obviously a lovely race. We wanted everything to be right and the question was always whether this would come too soon after the Nassau, but she did a bit of work last Thursday and everyone is happy with her. We are very lucky that she's got a Group 1 on the board already, so we don't have to chase one, and running here instead of in last Sunday's Prix Jean Romanet gives her an extra four days.”

Relief Rally Up In Trip For Lowther Test

An enticing undercard includes the G2 Sky Bet Lowther S., in which G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up and impressive Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) tackles six furlongs for the first time and encounters eight rivals. Denied by a nose at Royal Ascot in her penultimate start, she renews rivalry with Queen Mary third Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) and Queen Mary sixth Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She's a lovely filly and she'll run a good race,” insisted Relief Rally's trainer William Haggas. “She's very fast, she's very able and goes on any ground. She should get the trip and I think she'll enjoy the trip.” Opposition is deep and also includes Ballydoyle's impressive Curragh maiden winner Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who comes back off a runner-up finish in last month's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket.

Super Friday In Store

Friday's card includes a trio of stakes races with G3 Molecomb S. and Listed Windsor Castle S. victor Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in receipt of 19 pounds and more from his elders in the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. over five furlongs. The 16-runner dash is a who's-who of the sprinting ranks and includes last year's heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), her G1 King's Stand S. conqueror Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. hero Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}).

Big Evs also casts a shadow over the six-furlong G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S., which will witness the return of Ballydoyle's Windsor Castle runner-up Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Molecomb third Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in a field of 10.

Lady Blyth's Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) romped to a 14-length tally in last term's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup and the Hugh Morrison trainee will be back for more in this year's seven-runner renewal returning off a six-length rout in this month's G1 Goodwood Cup.

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Azure Blue To Take On Highfield Princess In Nunthorpe

Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), who bested Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 Duke Of York S. in May, will square off again with that multiple Group 1 winner in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 25, trainer Michael Dods confirmed on Friday.

A listed winner last October, the 4-year-old claimed the Listed Ellen Chaloner S. at Newmarket at the beginning of May before her group heroics. She was sixth in the G1 July Cup S. at Newmarket, but is reportedly doing well.

“At the moment we're thinking of going to York and the Nunthorpe,” said Dods, who has won the Knavesmire feature three times with Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in 2015/2016 and Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in 2018.

“We're pulling her back a furlong and it will be very competitive if the 2-year-olds come in and also Highfield Princess was so impressive at Goodwood.

“We had had a run and Highfield had not when we met before and she's obviously come on a lot from then. But it is the obvious race and at the moment the plan is to go there.”

The five-furlong Group 1 is new territory for the filly, who has raced at six furlongs or farther in every other start to date.

“We're travelling into the unknown,” Dods acknowledged. “They will go a hard gallop and hopefully she will be fine. We're looking forward to it and at the minute it is all systems go.”

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Speedy Filly The Platinum Queen Supplemented To The Nunthorpe

The three-for-four juvenile filly, The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) has been supplemented at a cost of €40,000 to the Aug. 19 G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York, owner Middleham Park Racing XV announced on Saturday morning. Successful at Ripon when unveiled in June, she was unplaced in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, but regained the winning thread with a 3 3/4-length score in a York novice race in July. She then ran out a four-length winner transferred to Goodwood in a conditions race over five furlongs in a new juvenile course record on July 27.

“We are delighted to announce that after discussions between Richard Fahey and her owners, The Platinum Queen has been supplemented for the G1 Nunthorpe S. at the Ebor Festival where she will be ridden by Hollie Doyle,” Middleham Park Racing said on Twitter.

She will face Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest victress Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) among the 17 current nominations.

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Champion Sprinter Battaash Retired

Champion sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), has been retired from racing, connections announced on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding raced in the Shadwell colours for the late Sheikh Hamdan and in 2021, his daughter, Sheikha Hissa. His final start was a seventh-place run aiming for a fifth-straight win in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday.

Racing Manager Angus Gold said on behalf of Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd., “Following telephone conversations with HH Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan Al Maktoum last night and this morning it has been confirmed that Battaash will retire from racing with immediate effect.

“Sheikha Hissa confirmed to me how much Battaash had meant to Sheikh Hamdan and indeed to all her family and she does not want to abuse him in any way–while the ground may have been a contributory factor to his defeat yesterday it appeared that some of his old spark was missing, so ultimately the decision to retire him was an easy one.”

Bred by Ballyphilip Stud in Ireland, the bay was a 200,000gns yearling purchase out of the 2015 Tattersalls October Sale Book 2 and sent to the yard of Charlie Hills where he would stay for the entirety of his 25-start career. He was a four-length debut winner at Bath in May of 2016 and ended his five-start juvenile season with a third in the G3 Cornwallis S. at Newmarket. As a sophomore, Battaash won four of his five starts-a listed race at Sandown, the G3 Coral Charge Sprint S., the first of four G2 King George Qatar S. titles and the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. His only loss was in the G1 Nunthorpe S. and he was named the French highweighted sprinter at three.

Successful in the G2 Temple S. resuming at four, the gelding was runner-up in the G1 King's Stand S., and claimed his second King George later that summer. At the end of the year, Battaash was named the champion sprinter in England from five to seven furlongs, an achievement he would also earn in 2019/2020.

Another Temple S. went his way in 2019, and he finished runner-up again in the King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. After winning the King George, he triumphed in the Nunthorpe S. for the first time at York that August. Battaash's 6-year-old season was kept to just three starts, but he won them all-a King's Stand victory on his third try, his fourth King George and his second Nunthorpe to bring his Group 1 tally to four. Injury marked the winter of 2020/21, and Battaash got a late start with a fourth in the King's Stand, prior to his career finale at Goodwood on Friday.

Gold continued, “Battaash has been a flag-bearer for Shadwell for the last six years and has run in 19 consecutive group races, winning 11 of them, including four Group 1s and was still at his prime as a 6-year-old last year winning all three of his starts.

“Despite having had soundness issues most of his life, from poor X-rays of his knees as a 3-year-old right through to having to repair a tiny fracture in his right-fore fetlock joint in December last year, along with two different surgeries for wind abnormalities, he has raced at the top level for the last five seasons.

“As a result of overcoming all these adversities he has obviously become a huge favourite for everyone connected with Shadwell and on behalf of Sheikha Hissa and her family I would like to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to his success–obviously to Charles Hills and all his team who looked after the horse so brilliantly, particularly Bob Grace and Bluey Cannon who took over the mantle of looking after the horse this year when Bob [Battaash's former groom] retired.

“To all those who rode the horse over the years, and in particular Dane O'Neill who has ridden him in so much of his work for the last three or four years. To all the vets who have spent so much of their time making sure that the horse is in top shape and finally to Dennis O'Brien and all his team at Shadwell Stud where the horse has spent his winters for the last four years–without all their dedication and hard work he would never have achieved the heights he has and we are very grateful to everybody who has contributed to his success.

“It has been an enormous thrill to have a horse as explosive as Battaash and together with other recent stars of the turf like Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), he has lit up the last few years and given us some wonderful days on the track, and we all feel very honoured to have been associated with him.

“Battaash will live out his days in well earned retirement at Shadwell Stud.”

The first foal out of his dam herself a half-sister to G2 Champagne S. winner Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk), Battaash has a 3-year-old full-sister named Altaayshah (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})-an 800,000gns yearling purchase by Shadwell in 2019–and a yearling full-brother. This is also the family of Shadwell's G2 Duke Of York S. hero and young stallion Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who placed twice at the highest level.

Paying tribute to his stable star, Hills tweeted Saturday morning, “Thank you Battaash for all the memories-a horse of a lifetime. Also, a huge thank you to all those who worked closely with him throughout his career-it's certainly been a journey and we couldn't have done it without you.”

Added Shadwell jockey Jim Crowley, “He's been an unbelievable horse for everyone involved and Charlie Hills has done a fantastic job with him. Bob Grace deserves a special mention for looking after him until his retirement and his new lad Bluey [Cannon], too.

“He's been the horse of a lifetime and I'll miss him dearly. To get a buzz like you got off him is very difficult to find. He was so fast–too fast for his own good sometimes, but it was always exciting riding him.”

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