Friday’s £500,000 feature is the last of three Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In races at the York Ebor meeting, offering a guaranteed fees-paid berth in the Turf Sprint at Keeneland on November 5
Two lightly-raced fillies who have yet even to run in a Group race, let alone win one, dominate the betting for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.
There are plenty of more established sprinters than Royal Aclaim and The Platinum Queen in a field of 15 for the G1 contest, which is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint – among them the first three from last year’s race (Winter Power,Emaraaty Ana and Dragon Symbol) and the first two from last month’s G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood (Khaadem and Raasel).
However, the unexposed fillies make obvious appeal in a Nunthorpe lacking any stand-out performer akin to recent dual winner Battaash, or the recent Wesley Ward-trained runners who went on the the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint after being beaten here – nose second Lady Aurelia finishing down the field at Del Mar in 2017, and last year’s seventh Golden Pal delivering in style when the Breeders’ Cup returned to the same track.
Unbeaten but inexperienced Royal Aclaim was running for only the third time when a highly impressive Listed winner over the Nunthorpe course and distance last month. She is favourite In the apparent absence of a sprinting star.
The two-year-old The Platinum Queen, supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after an impressive conditions race win over Goodwood’s fast 5f, is clear second favourite. She bids to follow in the footsteps of Lyric Fantasy (1992) and Kingsgate Native (2007), both of whom were fellow juveniles taking advantage of a massive weight-for-age allowance.
Top contenders
Royal Aclaim (James Tate/Andrea Atzeni) – unbeaten in three races over 5f and really impressive in Listed race at York last time, albeit from sprinters who run mainly in handicaps; this is a big step up, so she needs to improve again, and she’s short on experience but she looks the part.
The Platinum Queen (Richard Fahey/Hollie Doyle) – very speedy 2-y-o filly who was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 after following all-the-way C&D novice win by landing valuable conditions race at Goodwood in similar fashion; huge step up in class but receives big age and sex allowances.
Flotus (Simon & Ed Crisford/Silvestre de Sousa) – good third to Perfect Power in G1 over 6f at Royal Ascot before winning G3 over same trip at York last month; soundly beaten a year ago at Newbury on her only start at 5f.
Khaadem (Charlie Hills/Ryan Moore) – from a stable which excels with sprinters (recent dual Nunthorpe winner Battaash among them) and followed G3 win at Newmarket with neck defeat of Raasel in G2 at Goodwood, both over 5f.
Raasel (Mick Appleby/James Doyle) – hugely progressive 5f specialist who was winning eighth race in little more than nine months when landing G3 at Sandown last month; got going too late when failing by only a neck to reel in Khaadem in G2 at Goodwood.
Shall we talk about it?
James Tate, trainer of Royal Aclaim:“She is like nothing we’ve ever had through our stable gates before; she’s completely different. In three runs she’s achieved a rating of 108 and beaten two Group 1 winners, yet to be quite honest she’s never been fully fit, as she is now. The figures suggest she needs to improve around two lengths on the York form. Can she improve two lengths? I really think and hope so.”
Tom Palin, syndicate manager of The Platinum Queen:“The Platinum Queen is just a very speedy and enthusiastic filly, and the weight she receives l through the weight for age scale looks massive, although it’s there for a reason. At 8st – or indeed any weight – we couldn’t ask for a better rider than Hollie Doyle.”
Charlie Hills, trainer of Khaadem: “He’s tricky but very talented and you can’t knock his record this season. His win in the King George at Goodwood gave us so much satisfaction. Although he didn’t lead there he has plenty of speed, which will stand him in good stead at York, where you’ve needed to be on the pace this season.”
Roger Varian, trainer of Dragon Symbol:“His second to Raasel at Haydock was a good effort, and he gained a lot of confidence from his recent easy success at Hamilton. He was third in the Nunthorpe last year and he’s in pretty good shape.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
Royal Aclaim could hardly have been more impressive here last month, while The Platinum Queen is tempting under her feather weight, but this is a huge step up in class for both. KHAADEM, on the other hand, is a regular in the big sprints and his recent Goodwood win, where he beat Raasel and several other Nunthorpe hopefuls, confirms he is at the top of his game.
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