Nunthorpe Anchors Friday Bonanza

[Wandering Eyes]

After two heady days at York’s Ebor festival, Friday’s card is arguably the best of the four over the week with the

G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. taking centre stage. In a fascinating encounter between Shadwell’s Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the sponsors’ Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never), with last year’s runner-up Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) thrown into the mix, this renewal of the ultimate flat speed test stands up to some of the recent gems the Knavesmire faithful has witnessed. In 2017, Battaash did everything wrong in the preliminaries before finishing fourth and whereas his behaviour was vastly different when coming back 12 months ago, the result was the same.

Angus Gold remains unconvinced that there is a York hoodoo hanging over the operation’s star. “I see no reason why York wouldn’t suit him,” he said. “I can’t have the theory that he doesn’t act on the track. It’s not a track like Epsom, which some horses can’t take. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t handle it.”

Bringing up a treble of wins in Goodwood’s G2 King George S. last time Aug. 2, Battaash was described as a more settled, mature individual after that and the fact that he is drawn in one should be of no concern. Of the six times he has been drawn on the extremes in black-type company, he has won five with the other being the latest edition of the G1 King’s Stand S. where Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) stumbled alongside him and took him out of the race from the outset.

“He was very good at Goodwood again,” Gold added. “He’s very quick and tries to burn them off in the early part of a race, but he’s not always going to win. It’s a very high-class race. Ten Sovereigns is a very good horse and there are plenty of other good ones in there. It will just be interesting to see how he gets on.”

‘TDN Rising Star’ Ten Sovereigns comes here with stamina assured, having finished a close-up fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 4 before reverting to six to be a below-par fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 21 and take the G1 July Cup by storm at Newmarket last time July 13. Like the stable’s former sprinting luminaries Stravinsky and Mozart (Ire), he is attempting to follow up over this slick five after that stiff six-furlong examination. Aidan O’Brien is unconcerned about the shortening up. “We’ve no doubt about speed, he has loads of it, he shows that in his work and the clock shows that as well,” he commented. “We felt he learned a lot at Ascot in the 3-year-old race and felt he’d progressed into the July Cup. That would have made him faster and sharper again and we were very happy with him. He’s in good form and seems to have come out of his last race really well.”

Mabs Cross was denied by the narrowest of margins by Alpha Delphini (GB) (Captain Gerrard {Ire}) here last year before winning the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October. Third behind Battaash in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock May 25 and fourth in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot June 18, David Armstrong’s 5-year-old is nevertheless the one of the front trio who is proven on the track. “She’s gone in a bit under the radar this year, but obviously Ten Sovereigns and Battaash are going there in great form having won their last races,” trainer Michael Dods commented. “She’s got a score to settle after last year, being beaten a nose. Battaash just looks more relaxed to me this year. I watched him closely at Haydock and Ascot and on the TV at Goodwood and he’s definitely more relaxed than in the past. Ten Sovereigns was very impressive in the July Cup, so it will be interesting.”

On the supporting card is the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, but as it hosts Bjorn Nielsen’s Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) it becomes practically the headline race as the finance department of the sponsors prepare to write out a second £1-million cheque. If there were any remaining doubts that he is practically unbeatable after the June 18 G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, they were resoundingly silenced with another high-class display in the G1 Goodwood Cup last time July 30. He had the measure of the re-opposing Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) on both occasions and seems to have more in hand than the three pounds he is forced to give away here.

Trainer John Gosden is happy with where the 5-year-old is at present. “The old boy is fine, it’s a good field with Dee Ex Bee in there again so it will be a proper race–we know it’s not going to be easy for him,” he said. “He did struggle in it last year, no doubt about that. It is quite a lot of races [making up the million bonus], but they are spaced well and he has already been to York once this year for the Yorkshire Cup. He’s a scrapper, though, the kind of guy who you’d want on your side in a barroom brawl, he’d be right there with you until the end.”

Dee Ex Bee is another who likes to roll up his sleeves and trainer Mark Johnston is unafraid that another beating could be on the cards. “Where else do you go, what can you do, we’ve got to take him on again as that is what racing is about,” he said, while Dermot Weld saddles Moyglare Stud’s Falcon Eight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who remains an unknown quantity. Successful under Frankie in the Listed Esher S. over two miles at Sandown July 6, the homebred full-brother to Thursday’s Listed Galtres S. winner Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and half to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}) and Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) is in deep.

“He is the most incredibly lazy horse, he’s probably the most laid-back horse you’ve ever seen,” Fiona Craig, breeding adviser to owners Moyglare Stud Farm, said. “I’m sure if you let him gallop along at the back, he’d pull up and stand and eat grass! Stradivarius is one of the best stayers we’ve seen in several years and Dee Ex Bee is as tough as they come. With our horse I think it’s a question of how fast he’s learning compared to the ability that we think he has. Pat Smullen has done an awful lot of work with him at home, teaching him to race, and any success he has will be largely down to him.”

In the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S., Richard Hannon will be hoping that ‘TDN Rising Star’ Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) can bury the disappointment of his defeat by Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood Aug. 1. Also runner-up in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 18, Cheveley Park Stud’s colour-bearer sets a clear standard. The stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said, “He’s been consistent so far. He ran a blinder at Royal Ascot and then ran a very good race at Goodwood. He seems to keep progressing and we’re glad we avoided the Prix Morny last weekend. In due course we hope he’ll get further, but for now we’re happy to stick to six furlongs and we’re hoping he’ll go close.”

Earle Mack and Les Boyer’s unbeaten Malotru (GB) (Casamento {Ire}) faces a stiff task in the Gimcrack, but he was authoritative in success in the G3 Premio Primi Passi at the San Siro June 23 and warrants respect, while TDN Rising Stars Repartee (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Pistoletto (War Front) will be dangerous if able to put recent defeats behind them. The former, who sports Sheikh Mohammed Obaida Al Maktoum’s silks, was a disappointing fourth in the Listed Rose Bowl S. over this six-furlong trip at Newbury July 19, while Pistoletto was sixth when the 9-4 favourite for the G3 Anglesey S. over slightly further at The Curragh on his return from a break July 20.

Friday is an important day for the 2-year-olds as after the Gimcrack The Curragh stage the G2 Debutante S. and G2 Futurity S. In both, Aidan O’Brien looks to have strong claims with the impressive July 25 G3 Silver Flash S. winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heading a four-pronged attack on the Debutante and the July 25 G3 Tyros S. scorer Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also topping a quality quartet from Rosegreen in the Futurity. Love had the Niarchos Family’s Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) back in third when breaking her maiden at Leopardstown July 11, but that half-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was subsequently impressive over this seven-furlong trip at the Galway festival Aug. 2.

Alpine Star’s trainer Jessie Harrington also saddles Stonestreet Stables’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who beat Love by a neck on debut over this course and distance June 27 before finishing last of eight in her wake in the Silver Flash. “We had a complete disaster with her at Leopardstown,” she said. “I think maybe the ground was a bit too firm for her, but we’ve always thought a whole lot of her and the ground will be lovely there tomorrow evening.” Of Alpine Star, she added, “We were delighted with her at Galway–it was a natural progression. They are two very nice fillies. They’ve never worked together, so we’ll just have to see.” In a fascinating encounter, Ger Lyons saddles a duo for Newtown Anner Stud Farm, with the July 20 G3 Anglesey S. third Soul Search (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) having finished in between Love and Alpine Star previously in that Leopardstown maiden.

Armory appears to be Ballydoyle’s leading 2-year-old colt at present, but he meets more competition than when a five-length winner of the Tyros and one of his rivals is Sammy Hon Kit Ma’s Roman Turbo (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Unbeaten after his first serious test in the Anglesey, he steps up in trip but trainer Mick Halford is hoping for a bold show. “He is undefeated, won twice at the track and is inching up in trip–the step will definitely suit him,” he commented. “He’s been training really well, so we are happy to put him in there. The only thing I am a bit worried about is the ground. He is a beautiful-moving horse, so I would not be confident of him handling if it was soft.”

Simon Kwok’s Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) is also two-for-two, having beaten the subsequent G3 Acomb S. runner-up Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. over 7 1/2 furlongs on heavy ground at Tipperary. He helps to make up a fascinating line-up to this year’s Futurity, with impressive maiden winners Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Geometrical (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) joined by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who was runner-up and third behind Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 22 and G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood July 30, respectively.

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