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Golden Pal, Suesa On Course For York Clash In Nunthorpe Stakes

Connections of Golden Pal and Suesa have confirmed that the respective sprint stars are pleasing in their preparations ahead of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday, Aug. 20.

American ace, Golden Pal, ships from Indianapolis tonight ahead of arriving at the Knavesmire late tomorrow before his participation in this British Champions Series Sprint.

French filly, Suesa, is currently in Deauville before travelling across the Channel for the £400,000 (about US$470,000) Group 1.

Festival sponsors, Sky Bet can't split the 5/2 joint-favorites for the five-furlong blitz that could also see fellow 3-year-old speedsters, Dragon Symbol and Winter Power, in action.

The Nunthorpe is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this fall at Del Mar.

Trainer Francois Rohaut considers his charge Suesa to be one of the “new generation” after Battaash – winner of the last two showcase sprints on the Knavesmire – who retired at the end of last month.

And Suesa certainly looked as if she'll be at the forefront of the sprinting ranks for some time to come, when winning the Group 2 King George Stakes by three lengths at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Rohaut said: “It was fantastic. We didn't expect such a nice win. She showed that day that she's a top-class filly. The going was perfect for her – and the strong pace. It was really fantastic for everybody.”

Now Rohaut, whose main base is in Paul in the south-west of France is fine-tuning his new stable star for the step up to Group 1 company at York. It's a course that Rohaut has been to before but not for several decades.

He explained: “I went when I was working in Newmarket but it was 43 years ago. I was a pupil with Sir Mark Prescott and Harry Wragg.

“Sir Mark is fantastic. I saw he won a Group 1 (with Alpinista) on Sunday in Germany. I am always very pleased to see him winning a good race.”

It's a feeling that's reciprocated as Prescott sent Rohaut a congratulatory text after Suesa's Goodwood triumph. If Suesa wins on Friday, Rohaut will likely receive another message from his old boss.

And all the signs are positive in the build-up to the eagerly-anticipated sprint clash.

Rohaut said: “The filly is okay, so the plan is to come. It's very exciting and we are very happy to be in this race.

“She had a good canter on Tuesday in Deauville where she's staying. Everything is okay. I am very happy with her. I walked her (on Wednesday afternoon) and she was jumping everywhere and was very fresh and happy to be in Deauville. And I hope she'll be happy to go and to be in York.”

Like Suesa, Golden Pal will also head to York on the back of winning form. He ran out a comfortable three-length winner of a Grade 3 at Saratoga in mid-July on his seasonal return. He was an impressive two-year-old, winning the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, as well as finishing second in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

And his trainer Wesley Ward believes Golden Pal is an even better prospect in his three-year-old campaign.

Ward said: “He's bigger, stronger, faster. I think we're in good shape.”

He also outlined how Golden Pal pleased in a spin on Wednesday morning. Ward added: “He breezed on the grass at Keeneland – a really nice workout, a final piece of fast work. We're ready to go. Everything's going to plan.”

Ward has found only one too good on his two previous attempts to land the Coolmore-sponsored Nunthorpe Stakes. In 2015, Acapulco was beaten two lengths by Mecca's Angel and then in 2017 Lady Aurelia went down by a mere nose to Marsha in a thrilling photo-finish.

Ward, who will fly in for the race, said: “This time we're hoping to get lucky!”

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Yorkshire Cup The Friday Feature

York wraps up its three-day Dante meeting on Friday, with the G2 Matchbook Yorkshire Cup the dominant prize as the older stayers have their moment. Mark Johnston has made no secret of his passion for this category and 2021 promises to be his best year for some time with a trio of star names in the division hailing from Kingsley House Stables. While perhaps the chief member Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) is not on the Knavesmire, the other two are and his half-brother Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) has a definite edge over the stalwart Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Showing speed as well as stamina to take Newmarket's G2 Jockey Club S. over a mile and a half at the start of the month, Paul Dean's Sir Ron Priestley is back at the 14-furlong trip over which he suffered his last defeat when second in the G1 St Leger. Nayef Road, who was a head behind his stablemate when third in that Doncaster Classic, comes here on the back of a third reversal at the hands of the clear division leader Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) when also in that position in Ascot's G3 Sagaro S. Apr. 28.

Johnston's biggest problem this term is keeping the threesome apart. “We are very strong in the staying department and we did think that Sir Ron Priestley, Nayef Road and Subjectivist might all meet in the [G1] Gold Cup, but that's now looking very unlikely, because Sir Ron Priestley probably won't go that far,” he revealed. “It's great to see him demonstrating so much speed and his next runs after the Yorkshire Cup are quite likely to be at a mile and a half, with the [G2] Hardwicke S. a probable next target. It's been very satisfying getting him back in such good form after missing last year–he's given the impression he's in the form of his life and he's certainly rated higher than ever.

“Nayef Road is in good enough form too and ran really well in the Sagaro S. at Ascot and it's just a case of finding the best spots for all three horses.”

Ballydoyle's Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) offers the sternest threat to the Johnston pair, even if his return effort when fourth in Navan's G3 Vintage Crop S. Apr. 25 left some doubt as to whether he can make a serious mark in these type of races in 2021. Having also contested a St Leger, the G1 Irish Derby winner was on the premises in a strong renewal when fourth at Doncaster in September having also been third in the G1 Goodwood Cup attempting in vain to upset Stradivarius on favourable weight-for-age terms in July. “Hopefully he'll have come forward from his first run at Navan. He was keen enough there, with it being his first run and we know the trip is no problem,” Aidan O'Brien said.

Also on the card is a fascinating edition of the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S., with the near-mile contest registered as the Michael Seely Memorial attracting two 'TDN Rising Stars' in Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Love Is You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The former went through her Newbury maiden in the style of a class act, with the highly-regarded Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the subsequent winner Fantastic Fox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) put in their place over this trip Apr. 18. Love Is You was taken out of the 1000 Guineas reckoning following her third in the seven-furlong G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket Apr. 14, but Normandie Stud's Listed Radley S.-winning homebred is on track for the G1 Coronation S. that her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) captured in 2012.

Leopardstown's 14-furlong Listed Saval Beg Levmoss S. also features some possible Gold Cup hopefuls, with Ballydoyle's G1 Epsom Derby third Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tackling last year's G1 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the returning dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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Frankel’s Hurricane Lane Takes the Dante

Maintaining his unbeaten record in an attritional renewal of York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday, Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) duly put himself in the picture for a fascinating G1 Epsom Derby. Coming through the Charlie Appleby ranks with a win in the 10-furlong Newbury conditions race that has acted as an important stepping stone to Epsom in recent times, the chestnut with abundant stamina was put in second early with William Buick keeping tabs on Ballydoyle's Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As that second string cut loose in the straight under Hollie Doyle, the chasers were hard at it in behind and for more than a furlong it looked as if the pacemaker was gone but Hurricane Lane continued to pound away at the gaping margin. By the time the furlong marker loomed, the 5-1 second favourite was on the case along with Megallan (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the 13-8 favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) running a rusty but encouraging comeback race in their wake. At the line, there was 3/4 of a length between the Appleby and Gosden runners with Ballydoyle's much-discussed G2 Beresford S. winner getting to within a further 1 1/4 lengths in what can only be seen as an ideal blue riband prep given his upset preparation. William Buick was on the winner and believes he has a genuine chance in the June 5 Classic. “This was a good Dante on paper and a true-run race, so what you saw is what you get,” he said. “He'll go there with good credentials–he's done nothing wrong and this is an important test which he's come out of with flying colours.”

Making his debut at Newmarket when beating the useful handicapper Parachute (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) over a mile on heavy ground in the “Future Stayers” Novice S. in October, Hurricane Lane had returned in the same fashion in the Apr. 16 Newbury heat which has played host to the subsequent Classic winners Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and Light Shift (Kingmambo). Buick is happy that he has the experience to make an impact in the big one. “He did the same at Newbury–once he gets company he battles back and goes through the gears gradually and in his own time but always in time,” he added. “He answers every call and everyone was racing from two out to the line here–at the line I thought he was well on top. I was drawn 11 and so only had the option to go forward, but he relaxed nicely and was always in a nice rhythm. I wanted to give him time to build up his momentum, as he was certain to stay and is certain to improve for the step up to a mile and a half. He's a big horse who has never been on fast ground, but the Derby is usually run on good and he's done everything a little bit smoother and a little bit quicker each time he's run. The way he's going, he's going to improve and go to Epsom a better horse.”

Appleby revealed that the winner would be joined by the G1 2000 Guineas sixth One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). “We felt this horse had the best form, so we were confident that Hurricane Lane was the right one to go to the Dante,” he said. “He's got a great temperament for a big horse and is a good mover. It was lovely ground and he's jumped and travelled well and stayed well, so he ticks a lot of the boxes. I was a bit worried Hollie's horse had got away from them, but once I saw he was stopping I was confident our horse would keep galloping and that's what he's done. He's proven he's got stamina in abundance and the step up in trip at Epsom should suit him. I've been on the phone to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and he was pleased, so as long as the horse comes out of it fit and well, that is the obvious place to go.”

John Gosden said of the runner-up, “He came here on trial for the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly June 6] and if he's in good order that's where he'll go, as that is his trip. Megallan has a better turn of foot on quicker ground, so we'll have to see what it's like. I think the two best trials are the Derrinstown and the Dante, I think the winners are the two smart ones and Aidan also has two smart fillies.”

Hurricane Lane is the second foal out of the heavy-ground listed scorer Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), a homebred of Lord Vestey who was a friend of the Queen and former Master of the Horse and who died in February. Gale Force, who was most at home over two miles, boasted as her first foal the winner's full-sister Frankel's Storm (GB) who was runner-up in the Listed Junioren-Preis as a juvenile and won over a mile and a half the following season. The second dam Hannda (Ire) (Dr. Devious {Ire}), who produced the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal of Approval (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), is also kin to the G3 Concorde S. winner Hamairi (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), the Listed Testimonial S. scorer and G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. runner-up Hanabad (Ire) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and to the dam of the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Hamariyna (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}).

The third dam is Handaza (Ire) (Be My Guest), in turn a half-sister to the G3 Blue Wind S. scorer Hazarista (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and the G3 Athasi S. winner Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) with the latter being the dam of the G1 Epsom and Irish Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Gale Force's as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Harzand's sire is named Sweet William (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Australia (GB).

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £165,000, York, 5-13, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:10.06, gd.
1–HURRICANE LANE (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr & SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £93,572. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $156,446. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Megallan (GB), 126, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Eastern Belle (GB), by Champs Elysees (GB). O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £35,475.
3–High Definition (Ire), 126, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Palace (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerberg; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £17,754.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 14.00, 1.63.
Also Ran: Roman Empire (Ire), Gear Up (Ire), Pythagoras (Ire), Flying Visit (Ire), Belloccio (Fr), Royal Champion (Ire), Uncle Bryn (GB). Scratched: Alenquer (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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York Feature Races’ Prize Money Returned to Pre-COVID Levels

A trio of Group 1 races at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival on Aug.18-21 and the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on May 13 have all had their prize money boosted to pre-COVID levels, the racecourse announced on Wednesday. The G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 18, rated the Longines World's Best Horse Race in 2020, will once again be worth £1 million, while the Aug. 19 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks will be run for £400,000. The purse of the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. will also be £400,000, and the Dante with be worth £165,000.

Commenting on the news, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course said, “York Racecourse is proud of its record of investing in prize money to help sustain the wider racing industry and to attract the best horses to the Knavesmire. This is a time when that strategy needed to be confirmed and we are pleased to be able to commit to returning these four feature contests to their pre Covid levels. The seven-figure investment in the Juddmonte International reflects its status as the Longines World's Best Race. Clearly, the world is still in a difficult place and we will hugely miss the presence of spectators at the Dante Festival 2021.

“However, we wanted to make a positive announcement that reflects what York believes is in the shared best interest of the sport that everyone involved with the Knavesmire loves. The backing of our sponsors and supporters is deeply appreciated. We are excited about the prospect of some fantastic racing in May and the return of owners at the Dante Festival. Thereafter, we very much look forward to the return of spectators to York as the summer unfolds.”

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