'He Was All Fire': Bacio Wires Nunthorpe In Hernandez Masterclass

Any questions about York's easy ground were comprehensively answered by Bacio (Maclean's Music) as the US sensation did his pillar-to-post act in Friday's G1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.

Arguably Juan Hernandez's only anxious moment came in the stalls, with the 3-1 favourite momentarily upset and threatening to spoil the cross-Atlantic party before it even began but once composure was regained it was all about pace, pace and more pace in the event itself.

At the line, the Wesley Ward-trained three-year-old who had burst onto the scene in Royal Ascot's Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Starlust (Zoustar), who nosed out Rumstar (Havana Grey) for second.

Bacio covered the first furlong of this “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 13 seconds dead, getting upwards of nearly two lengths on everything as a result with the first three sectionals completed in 34.8. His penultimate split of 11.85 ended the duel, affording him the luxury of deceleration on the run to the line as the Brits got going.

Juan Hernandez was typically humble before his quick exit via helicopter ahead of Saturday's Del Mar card. “That was some performance, all the credit goes to Bacio–I'm just happy to be here, enjoying the moment,” he said. “He was all fire, even before the gate he was trying to get ahead of the other guys, he kind of hit the gate a little bit but after that he was calm and he was ready.”

“When the gate opened, he was trying to go too early but I was able to take him back a little bit and save him for the last part. I want to say thanks to Wesley Ward for bringing me here, assistant Blake, the groom–they do a really beautiful job with this horse and thanks to everybody. Hopefully I can come back again, as it's really special. It's something I never imagined when I started riding back in Mexico, but I'm really happy and this race is for America and all of my family.”

Showing this pace when wiring allowance optional claimers at Del Mar in November and at Churchill in April, Bacio had set up this tilt when killing Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn) et al at the Royal meeting where the only drama came post-race due to Hernandez's misplaced overgirth. This time, the moment of concern came in the starting gate but due to the help of Ain't Nobody's rider Kevin Stott next door the US raider was stopped from doing something reckless and the show was ready.

York's faithful will remember the great Dayjur and the beloved mare Lochsong making all in this race, but despite it offering a raw test of speed it is rarely dominated from the front in this way. Wesley Ward himself had the painful experience of watching Lady Aurelia getting caught in the shade of the post in 2017, so brutal early pace has to be backed up by ample staying power. Hernandez was able to take a peek back at least twice around the two-furlong marker before issuing the final blow to the rabble in behind and this time there was no Marsha flying out of the pack to break hearts.

Ward's daughter-in-law Caitlin Dunne said, “He is high-energy, a typical sprinter which is why we were happy to have Juan here as he knows him so well–that definitely paid off today. It's no small feat for Juan, as he has to be back at Del Mar for really important rides but he believed in the horse and was here to take care of him along with the whole team, Wesley's assistant Blake Heap and his groom Jose Reveles. It takes a village and they all showed up for him and Bacio showed up for us today.”

“Wesley has always been infatuated by running horses here and I can't imagine how he is feeling to get that pay-off, but what I do know is I am so proud of him and the whole team back home,” she added. “I know they are over the moon right now. He didn't meet his reserve at the Sale, so the breeders stayed in and when he showed promise they got an outside offer but Wesley said 'I can't lose this horse' and asked me if Michael Behrens would take a piece of him. He said 'absolutely' and thought it would be a really fun ride, so we got the deal done to keep the horse in the barn and it's worked out!”

“The My Racehorse concept has been so much fun and the owners are so passionate and will make this kind of trip,” Dunne concluded. “Bacio's keeping the airmiles very heavy in the account and we love it,, but the Breeders' Cup is at home and just a short walk across the street to the starting gate–hopefully we'll show ourselves well there.”

Wow!

Bacio leads from pillar to post in the Group 1 @coolmorestud City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes under Juan Hernandez for Wesley Ward 🇺🇸 @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/hevC98hbmb

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 21, 2026

Pedigree Notes
Bred by Borrowdale LLC (Andrew Cary), Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Avenue Equine, Knollwood Farm and Valerie Dailey, the winner who was also second in last year's Speakeasy Stakes is a son of the Summer Winds Stakes scorer Katie's Kiss (Kantharos). A half to the fellow Stakes winner Stonestreetsong (Songandaprayer), her two-year-old filly Southern Kiss (Golden Pal) was a $15,000 purchase by Blue Crevalle at the Ocala Spring Sale while she also has a colt foal by Arabian Knight.