Tag Archive for: Nunthorpe Stakes

Asfoora powers to Nunthorpe victory for Australia

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Australian speedster Asfoora tasted success on British soil once again when blazing her way to victory in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Henry Dwyer’s horse of a lifetime was a Royal Ascot winner when adding spice to the sprinting scene last year and the enduring enterprise of connections was rewarded on the Knavesmire, as the 11-1 shot bettered last year’s fourth in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Always ideally placed following the blistering pace set by Karl Burke’s Night Raider, Asfoora hit top gear with a furlong to run, scorching a length and a quarter clear of Kevin Ryan’s 100-1 shot Ain’t Nobody, who finished well for second. William Knight’s Frost At Dawn was third.

Dwyer said: “I’d love to see the replay because it looked like she won quite convincingly.

“When you know they are going to win at the two-furlong marker you are sort of on pretty good terms with yourself. It was an easy watch and it was great to be around a lot of friends, really enjoyable.

“It’s just an incredible buzz to be validated with what you think. It was a little bit dicey and people were doubting her, but we didn’t really lose faith.

“It’s always hard to keep faith when they aren’t winning, but we knew there were no excuses coming into today – it was win or be retired basically, and she’s done the job.”

Henry Dwyer (left) with Asfoora after winning the Nunthorpe
Henry Dwyer (left) with Asfoora after winning the Nunthorpe (Richard Sellers/PA)

Having become only the second Australian-trained winner of the Nunthorpe after Ortensia’s victory in 2012, Asfoora’s stay in Europe is set to continue into the early autumn, with next month’s Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp under consideration.

“The Flying Five in Ireland and the Prix de l’Abbaye in France (are options), if she comes through this well,” Dwyer added.

“At this stage, she’s a seven-year-old mare, and she may tell us she doesn’t want to be there any more, but off the back of that result you can’t say that is the case.”

He went on: “We never set out to come over here, there were just no options back in Australia. Australian racing is amazing and the prize-money is amazing, but it just doesn’t quite cater for five-furlong horses like they do over here.

“We are under no illusions – we aren’t Black Caviar or Ortensia. But she’s picked her mark and she’s tough and she turns up and runs her race when the circumstances are right and she’s done that today.

“Ortensia is the only Australia sprinter to win the Nunthorpe before and it’s probably the second biggest sprint in Europe, so it’s amazing for us to win it too.”

Lady Iman leads 17-strong Nunthorpe field

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Lady Iman heads a field 17 when she bid to become the first two-year-old in 18 years to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

Ger Lyon’s youngster has dazzled throughout the current campaign and was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after advertising her claims in the Molecomb at Goodwood last time.

She is joined in a mouthwatering feature on day three of the Ebor Festival by a stellar cast of sprinting talent, with fellow Irish raiders including Adrian Murray’s Sapphire Stakes scorer Arizona Blaze and Jack Davison’s ultra-consistent stable star She’s Quality.

Australian ace Asfoora will continue her European odyssey and attempt to better last year’s fourth in this race for trainer Henry Dwyer, while Washington Heights was sixth 12 months ago and is one of two in the race for Kevin Ryan alongside Ain’t Nobody.

Ed Walker is another handler with two in the mix as he saddles both Mgheera and last year’s Lowther Stakes winner Celandine, with John and Sean Quinn putting their faith in King George Stakes winner Jm Jungle to continue his progress through the ranks at a track he knows well.

Fellow course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to the Knavesmire looking to give Richard Hughes a first win as a trainer in a race he twice conquered as a jockey, while other notable names include Michael Bell’s two-year-old Spicy Marg and Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar, who like Lady Iman have been supplemented into the contest.

Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard
Trawlerman is the class act on the York undercard (David Davies/PA)

In the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes, John and Thady Gosden’s emphatic Gold Cup winner Trawlerman is the standout name in a field of six that also includes stablemate and standing dish of the staying division Sweet William.

Karl Burke’s Al Qareem brings strong course form to the table, while Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir was beaten a short head in this last year and returns to correct the record after a similar narrow defeat at Sandown last time.

A field of eight will line-up for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Walker’s Do Or Do Not has the chance for a first victory at Group level.

Richard Hughes no stranger to Nunthorpe success as he readies Sayidah Dariyan

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Precision timing proved key when Richard Hughes tasted Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes glory as a jockey and his expert judgement could see Sayidah Dariyan peak at the perfect moment when she takes aim at York’s feature sprint on Friday.

Often content to bide his time in the plate, patience has again been the Irishman’s watchword in the training ranks, ending his long wait for an elusive first Group One success as a trainer when No Half Measures won the July Cup earlier this summer.

And ahead of Sayidah Dariyan’s attempt to quickly double his tally at the highest level, the 52-year-old remembers delivering Edward Lynam’s Sole Power with aplomb in the 2014 Nunthorpe, a ride which is often referred to as Hughes at the height of his powers.

Richard Hughes knows what it takes to win at York
Richard Hughes knows what it takes to win at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

A shock winner when surging home at 100-1 four years previously, the seven-year-old was an established name in the spiriting division and fresh off victory at Royal Ascot when Hughes entered the stalls aboard the 11-4 favourite.

What would ensue in the following 57.92 seconds was a display of calculated decision making as Hughes weaved his way to the front in the nick of time in an exhibition of horsemanship which was a hallmark of his decorated career in the saddle.

“It was really straightforward and I always felt it was a race you needed to get your fractions the same every furlong,” said Hughes

“It looked like Sole Power was quickening but he was going the same speed from the two-furlong pole to the one as he did from the one-pole to the winning post, I would say, and it was the others which stopped.

“I had no choice for four furlongs as I was flat to the bat, I know I was sitting on him but I couldn’t go any quicker.

“It was only then when the pace finally collapsed – and it took a good while but it eventually did – and they were all in a bit of a heap and collapsed at a similar time that I got going, and I had a bit of luck along the way to get through the pack.

“It does give you some extra satisfaction when you win like that and I enjoyed it, that’s for sure.”

There are many ways to get a job done and while Sole Power’s daring late dash is the showreel finish any jockey would be proud to wax lyrical about, in stark contrast, Hughes’ first Nunthorpe triumph aboard Oasis Dream in 2003 was a mere formality as the outstanding sprinter of his generation blew away his rivals.

Majestically handled by John Gosden, he was an impressive winner of the July Cup before dropping back to five furlongs to prove equally spellbinding on the Knavesmire, leaving Hughes with little doubt where he stands in the pantheon of sprinting greats.

Oasis Dream
Richard Hughes (left) with Oasis Dream after winning the Nunthorpe (PA)

He said: “He was very, very fast and able to maintain it. He was a young horse at the time so he was exuberant.

“He would be one of the best sprinters I rode, he was third at Royal Ascot but won a July Cup and a Nunthorpe and not many do that, he was very good.”

With triumphs in the saddle now confined to the memory bank and perhaps the odd photographic reminder on a wall, attentions turn to the next chapter in Hughes’ Nunthorpe history book when Sayidah Dariyan takes her place in the showpiece sprint event.

Successful over the course and distance in her most recent outing, Hughes is confident the talented daughter of Dariyan is coming to the boil at just the right time, as the Weathercock Stables handler looks to cap a breakout year in the training ranks at the scene of some of his finest hours on horseback.

“It would be lovely to win as a trainer,” continued Hughes. “It might be a bit harder than when I was a jockey but we hope we have a great chance.

“Sayidah Dariyan really is going the right way and last time when she won at York, it was the first time she was ridden the way I like.

“She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot by Billy (Loughnane) and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.

“I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her, she’s quite fast.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well, we know we have two nice fillies.”

Lady Iman supplemented for Nunthorpe Stakes

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Lady Iman will bid to become the first two-year-old since Kingsgate Native in 2007 to win the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes after being added to the York showpiece at a cost of £40,000.

Ger Lyons stated his intention to send the high-ranking juvenile to the Knavesmire to take on her elders when announcing lightweight specialist Joe Fanning will take the ride and the supplementary entry was confirmed when the Molecomb Stakes winner appeared among the 19 names going forward to Friday’s contest.

Another two-year-old has been supplemented in the shape of Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg. Rumstar (Jonathan Portman) is another to be added. Australian ace Asfoora is one of the standout names remaining in the mix as Henry Dwyer’s popular international runner bids to better last year’s fourth in the race.

Richard Hughes won the Nunthorpe twice as a jockey and could taste success in the race again with Sayidah Dariyan who was a Group Three course winner over six furlongs last time, while John Quinn saddled home favourite Highland Princess to win this in 2022 and now alongside son Sean will attempt to repeat the dose with King George Stakes hero Jm Jungle.

Second to Jm Jungle at Goodwood was Jack Davison’s She’s Quality who has been knocking on the door all season long. Joining She’s Quality on the journey from Ireland will be Adrian Murray’s Sapphire Stakes winner Arizona Blaze.

“He’s going to York and it looks an open race,” said Murray.

“He’s got a similar profile to Power Blue actually and he always shows up on the day, he never runs a bad race.

“His form stands up well and win or lose he will be bang there, even in defeat he’s been a brilliant horse for us.”

There is a field of eight for the supporting Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes where John and Thady Gosden’s Gold Cup hero Trawlerman could face an Ascot rematch with Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois.

The Gosden team could also call on stable stalwart Sweet William, while Karl Burke’s Al Qareem has won twice at the Knavesmire this season and is another interesting name in the mix.

There are 11 remaining in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes where Charlie Appleby’s Norfolk Stakes runner-up and recent Rose Bowl Stakes winner Wise Approach sets the standard alongside Ed Walker’s consistent Do Or Do Not – last seen placing for the third time in succession at Group level in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Hughes counting down to the Nunthorpe with Sayidah Dariyan

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Richard Hughes is confident he has a “great chance” of notching a second big sprinting prize of the summer when course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to York for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

The Lambourn-based former jockey registered the first Group One success of his training career when stable flagbearer No Half Measures was a shock 66-1 winner of the July Cup at Newmarket, but a day prior it was his ever-improving three-year-old filly who sparkled when winning on the Knavesmire to set up her Nunthorpe bid.

“We hope we have a great chance, she’s really going the right way,” said Hughes, who memorably won the Nunthorpe aboard both Oasis Dream and Sole Power as a rider.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well we know we have two nice fillies.”

Sayidah Dariyan has barely put a foot wrong in her three-year-old career, winning a competitive conditions event at Chelmsford before bumping into the thriving Symbol Of Honour when third in Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes and then going on to finish fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

However, it was at York in the Summer Stakes where the Jaber Abdullah-owned three-year-old excelled in the hands of Billy Loughnane, leaving her as short as 8-1 in places for the Ebor Festival’s sprinting highlight.

“Last time when she won at York it was the first time she was ridden the way I like,” continued Hughes.

“She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.

“I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her and I think she’s quite fast.”

Sayidah Dariyan will be joined on her journey to Yorkshire by stablemate America Queen who will also sport the Abdullah silks when she lines up for the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

A 4-1 chance for the Group Two event after blitzing the opposition by 12 lengths on debut at Haydock, Weathercock House handler Hughes is hopeful of another bold showing.

“She definitely runs in the Lowther and we’re very pleased with her,” continued Hughes.

“We hadn’t seen what she did at Haydock at home. We thought she would win at Haydock but when the jockey gave her a slap and she took off, it was what we hadn’t seen before so hopefully she’s saving more for the track.

“We’ve got a nice bunch of two-year-olds who are going the right way and we’re really pleased with them.”

Joe Fanning booked for Nunthorpe favourite Lady Iman

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Joe Fanning has been booked to ride Goodwood winner Lady Iman in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York later this month.

The two-year-old filly will have to be supplemented for the Group One sprint but after winning the Molecomb Stakes – Lady Iman’s fourth victory in five career starts – owners the O’Callaghan family indicated they would be keen to pitch their juvenile into the all-aged contest.

While trainer Ger Lyons admits he is not usually in favour of running two-year-olds against older horses, he feels Lady Iman has all the right qualities to take on the test, with the services of lightweight Fanning already secured for the Starman filly, who would carry just 8st 2lb on the Knavesmire.

Lyons said: “I’ve just booked Joe Fanning to ride her (in the Nunthorpe). Joe sat beside me in the weigh room.

“It’s what Roger (O’Callaghan) wants and if she goes and wins the Nunthorpe we’ll all be delighted.

“Personally, I don’t like seeing babies taking on older horses. If we ever have one to do it’s her as she has the temperament, but we have to get there yet.”

Lady Iman is the general 4-1 favourite for the five-furlong contest, with a supplementary entry costing £40,000.

Nunthorpe challenge still in the mix for Lady Iman

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The Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes remains a tantalising option for Lady Iman after she provided the O’Callaghan family with another memorable moment in a dream summer at Goodwood.

It is often said that one man’s misfortune is another man’s gain and after bringing the hammer down for £185,000 at the sales before being returned to her breeders following a failed post-sale veterinary examination, few would have blamed the O’Callaghans of Tally-Ho Stud fame for feeling despondent.

However, sent into training with Ger Lyons, Lady Iman has proven a standard-bearer in more ways than one, both excelling on the track in the O’Callaghan silks and becoming the perfect advertisement for Tally-Ho’s freshman sire Starman in the process.

After three straight victories Lady Iman and her striking white face met a bump in the road at the Curragh in the Airlie Stud Stakes, but was soon back showcasing the speed that has been a hallmark of her career to date to leave the opposition trailing with a dazzling display in the Molecomb Stakes.

“It was great to see her win again and we’re living the dream and we’ll see where she takes us,” said Roger O’Callaghan, son of Tony and Anne O’Callaghan.

“She’s been awesome since we couldn’t sell her. Before Christmas she was showing plenty and looked a bit different. She’s always shown loads and her temperament is second to none. She is why Starman looks to be a good stallion, as she has got his speed and his temperament.

“We’re all enjoying it and hopefully we’re not finished yet.”

Lady Iman returns after her Goodwood win
Lady Iman returns after her Goodwood win (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It was not just the speed shown by Lady Iman on the racecourse the O’Callaghans enjoyed at Goodwood, as unlike their star performer, they were asked to take the foot off their gas when getting to experience horse power of a different kind and invited to try out the South Downs’ famous motor circuit.

And having enjoyed the hospitality provided during Lady Iman’s first raid to Britain, the owners are now left to ponder the next steps of the thriving juvenile’s career.

With a ticket to the $1million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint ready to be cashed in later in the year courtesy of her Molecomb triumph, the chance to become the first two-year-old Nunthorpe winner since Kingsgate Native in 2007 is getting connections thinking after she was made the general 4-1 favourite for a daring raid on the Knavesmire’s sprint feature.

“Personally I would like to go for the Nunthorpe,” continued O’Callaghan.

“Dad and myself own the filly together and dad might prefer the filly to stick to her own age group, but if she’s fit and well, I would like to take on the elders, you have to live the dream and live for the moment.

“We’ll worry about it when the time comes, there’s a few weeks yet and we would have to write a bit of a cheque (to supplement), so we’ll see.

“The trainer is very keen on the Breeders’ Cup and Goodwood was a ‘win and you’re in’. We’ll take it one day at a time, but I would like to go to York next.”

Another try at the Nunthorpe on the cards for Washington Heights

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A second crack at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes could be in store for Washington Heights after returning to winning ways at York in the City Walls Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s five-year-old may have been winning for the first time on the Knavesmire when scooping Listed honours, but has rarely performed badly at the venue.

After a solid display in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, Washington Heights registered a first win since April 2024 when obliging favourite-backers on Saturday to book a return to York and the chance to better last year’s sixth-placed finish in the Ebor Festival’s feature Group One sprint.

“I think he’s very likely to head straight to the Nunthorpe, kept fresh and get him there in one piece,” said Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for owners Hambleton Racing

“He goes well at York, and as well as winning there he was second in the big sales race as a two-year-old and also ran well in the Nunthorpe from the wrong side of the track last year behind some good horses.

“I think he’s definitely capable of winning a big one if things drop right for him, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

“He’s been a great servant to us and won some good races and also run brilliantly in defeat many times as well. He’s a horse who leaves everything on the track and tried really hard which is what you want and he’s been a great horse for the syndicate .

“He had been running well all season and it was great to see him win, we’re delighted with him really.”

Hughes eyeing York return for thriving Sayidah Dariyan

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Fresh from training his first Group One winner with No Half Measures in the July Cup, Richard Hughes feels he has another contender for top honours in Sayidah Dariyan.

A Group Three winner at York on Friday on the back of a creditable run at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, the filly could return to the Knavesmire for a crack at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes next month.

“I thought her run at Ascot was huge and to be honest I’d have been really disappointed had she got beat at York,” Hughes told Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme.

“I had a good chat with Billy (Loughnane) about how to get the best out of the filly, which was to ride her the way he did, and it was a very brave ride, I was very proud of him.

“I told him about riding in these big races, don’t worry if you get beat and I’d rather you come too late than too soon, but she really showed how good she was and she’s a very high-class filly.

“She could win the July Cup next year. We’ll have a chat with Jaber (Abdullah, owner) and see what he wants to do as he’s a big breeder as well.

“We might think about the Nunthorpe as the way she travelled the other day I don’t think five furlongs will make much difference to her.

“If I have to wait until September and the ground goes on me there isn’t much left because Ascot will be soft. If I need a shot at a Group One I probably need fast ground.”

Goldie focusing on Breeders’ Cup date with American Affair

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Jim Goldie is “reasonably confident” American Affair will still make the Breeders’ Cup after he was forced to rule his stable star out of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The five-year-old was one of the most popular winners at Royal Ascot when he powered through the field under Paul Mulrennan to win the King Charles III Stakes having triumphed in a handicap earlier in the season.

However, having had a routine flu vaccination, Goldie noticed his stable star was lame behind and a bone scan showed an issue that will prevent him from running next month.

“We’re hoping it’s not the end of his season,” said Goldie.

“We thought, just to clear the decks, if we took him out of the Nunthorpe now we wouldn’t try to rush him back. We don’t think it’s that serious, but if you get a warning, you heed it.

“It was after his routine vaccine for equine flu, sometimes it sets off an allergic reaction, that’s the whole idea of it. Basically he went lame behind on us, but he came sound quite quick.

“Obviously something was going on, so we decided to bone scan him and it highlighted some issues. If you scan most horses in training you’ll find something, but we’re just being careful.

“The Breeders’ Cup isn’t until November 1, I’ve taken advice from various vets that I work with and they think he can make that. I’m reasonably confident we’ll get him there.”