G1 Nunthorpe S

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...

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...

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...

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...

Coming off a dominating performance in the GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga, 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint champion Golden Pal is pointing towards the G1 Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 20. Trainer Wesley Ward oversaw the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo's training at Keeneland early this week as the colt prepares for a second trip overseas after a close second last year at Ascot in the G2 Norfolk S. "I think he's really going to move forward fitness-wise from [the Quick Call] to the race in York," Ward...

Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Breeders' Cup victor Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) are both targeting the 2021 Royal Ascot meeting trainer Wesley Ward has announced. The filly, a Stonestreet Stables colourbearer, will line up for the G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal Meeting. In 2020, Campanelle captured the G3 Queen Mary S. and then returned to Europe to add the G1 Prix Morny to her haul later in the summer. Although she has been entered in the G1 1000 Guineas and Irish equivalent, it is more likely...

Shadwell's MG1SW Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the 2019 edition of the G1 Nunthorpe S., is doing well ahead of a title defense in the Aug. 21 York contest. Trainer Charlie Hills is upbeat ahead of the big day, especially as the bay sports a two-for-two record in 2020. He opened his 6-year-old account with a win in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 16, and then added his fourth G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on July 31. "He had a nice...

The group-placed Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), who has an entry in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York on Friday, Aug. 21, will instead remain in America trainer Wesley Ward confirmed to the International Racing Bureau. The Ranlo Investments LLC runner ran second by a neck in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot in June. On the same day as the Nunthorpe is the Skidmore S. at Saratoga, where the son of accomplished turf speedball Lady Shipman (Midshipman) will contest instead. "Golden Pal is not coming," said IRB Director Adrian...

King Power Racing's Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the G3 Lacken S. at Naas on July 4, is targeting the Aug. 21 G1 Nunthorpe S., where he would face top older sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). His trainer Tim Easterby is hoping for rain, as the grey is not ending his season in the York sprinting showcase. The 3-year-old colt is riding a four-race winning streak, with a novice score at York last October kicking things off at second asking. Art Power followed up with another...

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), runner up behind The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) in the June 19 G2 Nortfolk S. at Royal Ascot, will make his next start in York's G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. Aug. 21. The juvenile had been scheduled to contest this weekend's Tyro S. at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, however, was withdrawn after the race came off the turf due to heavy rain. Trainer Wesley Ward has finished second in two prior tries in five-furlong Nunthorpe with Acapulco (Scat Daddy) and Lady Aurelia (Scat...

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on...

A trip to York for the G1 Nunthorpe S. is the next major target for Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) following another excellent effort in defeat in Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup. Denis Hogan's 4-year-old has made remarkable progress since opening his account at Dundalk in November--going on to complete a hat-trick at the County Louth venue before landing a listed prize at Naas and finishing a half-length third in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. With Frankie Dettori keeping the ride at Newmarket, Sceptical this time...