Kevin Blake returns to Sky Sports Racing with his customary two‑pick selection for the third day of York’s Ebor Festival, and one of those picks is a long‑shot at 33/1 in the Nunthorpe Stakes. By the time you read this, the Ebor meeting will be roughly half‑way through.
Whether the action so far has been kind to you or not, there is still a wealth of high‑quality racing left to enjoy. The headline race for the day is the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes, scheduled for 3:35 pm. It hardly needs mentioning that the sprint division in Europe has been a whirlwind of upsets in recent seasons. High‑odds winners have surfaced with unsettling regularity, leaving bettors bewildered.
The added factor of rain arriving just before the race only amplifies the chance of a surprise result. With that backdrop, I turned my attention to the back‑markers in search of the most intriguing outsider, and my attention settled on the Ralph Beckett‑trained five‑year‑old, STARLUST.
To call his profile unusual would be an understatement, but bear with me as I outline why he could be the day’s dark horse. Two years ago, Starlust was among the leading five‑furlong runners in the country. He finished a close third to Bradsell in this very race, was denied a win in a tightly contested Prix de l'Abbaye despite being in a prime position, and later captured his most prestigious victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
Those performances marked him as a genuine sprinter with Group‑level credentials. After a solid fourth place in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, Starlust was retired to a stud career in Australia, where he covered roughly 70 mares. However, his connections were dissatisfied with his fertility results and 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, but Starlust has shown enough promise in his recent runs to suggest that he is still capable of competing at the highest level. His first outing after returning was at Carlisle, where he finished a respectable fourth in a Listed race over the same distance. He then ran a near‑identical fourth at the King Charles III Stakes, albeit under a visor for the first time, indicating that he is adapting well to new equipment. York has historically been a favourable venue for Starlust, especially when the ground offers a touch of give.
If he can rediscover that affinity for the course, the Nunthorpe could present a rare opportunity to back a genuine Group‑1 contender at a very attractive price. The second selection for the day is the British Stallion Farms EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes, slated for 4:45 pm. This race is one of the richest maiden contests on the calendar and has attracted a high‑quality field.
Among the runners, the most notable is the Aidan O'Brien‑trained colt OKLAHOMA, a son of Wootton Bassett out of the accomplished mare Hydrangea. Oklahoma impressed on debut, finishing a close second to the promising Giant Sequoia, and subsequently followed up with a win in a maiden at Killarney, albeit at short odds. In his most recent start, he placed third in a race that has already proven to be a strong indicator of future form. The addition of cheekpieces for this outing, combined with the larger track dimensions at York, should suit his running style and make him a formidable opponent even against a deep field.
In summary, the day’s headline sprint offers a tantalising chance to gamble on a seasoned sprinter returning from stud duties at very long odds, while the maiden race provides a solid option in a well‑run colt backed by one of the sport’s leading trainers. Both selections reflect a blend of form, pedigree, and circumstance that could pay off handsomely for those willing to take a calculated risk.