Kevin Blake of Sky Sports Racing returns with his two selections for the third day of the Ebor Festival at York, highlighted by a long‑shot 33‑to‑1 gamble in the Nunthorpe Stakes. By the time you read this, the festival will be halfway through, and whether the meeting has treated you kindly or not, there remains a wealth of high‑quality racing to anticipate. The headline race of the day is the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes, scheduled for a 3:35 start. It needs little introduction that the European sprint division has been a roller‑coaster in recent years, with a string of unexpected, high‑odds winners leaving bettors bewildered.
The arrival of rain ahead of the race adds another layer of uncertainty, increasing the likelihood that an outsider could pull off a shock victory. With that in mind, I have scanned the form and identified what I consider the most intriguing outsider – the five‑year‑old gelding STARLUST, trained by Ralph Beckett. Describing his career as "quirky" would be an understatement, but his story is worth unpacking. Two seasons ago, STARLUST was among the leading five‑furlong performers in the country.
He ran a very close third to Bradsell in the Nunthorpe that year, then contested the prestigious Prix de l'Abbaye where he was unlucky despite being in a prime position. His most notable triumph came later, when he captured the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, confirming his ability to compete at the very highest level.
After a respectable fourth place in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, he was retired to a stud career in Australia. There he attracted roughly 70 mares, but his fertility proved disappointing. Rather than accept a lackluster breeding record, his owners made the unconventional decision to bring him back to the track under the guidance of trainer Ralph Beckett.
Reviving a horse’s racing career after a stint at stud is far from guaranteed, yet STARLUST has shown enough promise in his recent outings to suggest a genuine resurgence. His first race back was at Carlisle, where he finished a solid fourth. Though the King Charles III Stakes at Ascot did not go his way, the experience gave him valuable fitness. A notable development was his first use of a visor, which coincided with a near‑best fourth place in a Listed race over the same course and distance as the Nunthorpe.
This performance hinted that he still possesses the turn of foot required for top‑class sprinting. York has historically suited STARLUST, particularly when the ground is on the softer side.
His previous successes at the venue, combined with the current softer going, suggest that if he can be competitive in Group 1 company again, today could be the perfect opportunity to back him at a very generous price. Turning to the other race on the card, the British Stallion Farms EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (run at 4:45) is one of the most lucrative maiden contests of the season and has attracted a deep, high‑quality field.
Among the runners, a newcomer or a relatively unexposed horse will need to be exceptional to defeat the Aidan O'Brien‑trained colt OKLAHOMA. OKLAHOMA, a son of Wootton Bassett out of the mare Hydrangea, made an impressive debut when he finished second to the thrilling Giant Sequoia, a race that produced several subsequent winners. He entered a maiden at Killarney as a very short‑priced favorite, but only managed third place, indicating that while he has ability, he may still be learning. The addition of cheekpieces and the larger, more testing track at York should suit him, and he is expected to be a hard competitor even in a field of this calibre.
In summary, the day’s headline race offers a classic sprint showdown with the potential for a big upset, and STARLUST represents the most compelling outsider at 33‑to‑1. Meanwhile, the Convivial Maiden presents a battle between a proven trainer’s hopeful and a promising but still developing colt, making both races worth close attention for punters seeking value.