American sprinter Bacio surged ahead of his rivals from the start, delivering trainer Wesley Ward his inaugural triumph in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Ward, a well‑known figure at Keeneland, has amassed 13 winners at Royal Ascot, yet his record on the Knavesmire has been less forthcoming.
He previously guided Acapulco to a runner‑up finish in 2015 and, two years later, saw Lady Aurelia narrowly miss victory when Frankie Dettori celebrated crossing the line only to discover he had been edged out by Marsha at the very last moment. Entering the race as the 3/1 favourite, Bacio was backed to improve upon his recent success in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the Royal meeting in June. Pre‑race chatter centred on the rain‑softened turf, but those concerns vanished as the three‑year‑old burst from the stalls with purpose.
From the halfway point onward, his competitors struggled to keep pace, and Bacio never appeared vulnerable to a late challenge. He powered across the finish line a full length and a quarter ahead of the runner‑up, Starlust. Immediately after crossing the line, jockey Juan Hernandez was whisked away to the weighing room to make a hasty departure. He needed to catch a 6:30 pm flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles in time for the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
To meet that tight schedule, Hernandez boarded a helicopter from the centre of the Knavesmire straight to the airport, leaving no time to waste. During a brief trophy presentation attended by the Queen, Hernandez praised the colt: "He gave everything today and had been trained exceptionally well.
He travelled to the race in great condition; many were worried about the soft ground but he seemed unfazed. He broke from the gate with sharpness and fire, and although he tried to go too early, I was able to settle him and preserve his stamina for the finish. He won from the very start.
Everyone involved has done an outstanding job with this horse. I’m thrilled – this win belongs to America and my family.
Thank you all!" In related news, Arapaho Gold extended his unbeaten run to four wins by taking the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes. Trained by Michael Dods, the gelding had previously contested modest races at Thirsk, suffered a setback after misbehaving in the stalls at Beverley, and then stepped up to Listed class in the Rose Bowl at Newbury. He faced a further elevation to Group Two level in the Gimcrack, yet under jockey Connor Beasley he handled the pressure admirably. After a brief spell of contention, he rallied strongly to repel Final Objective by three‑quarters of a length, winning at 2/1.
Dods, based in Darlington, has enjoyed a fruitful association with York. A decade ago he guided Mecca's Angel to a second Nunthorpe victory on this very day, and he has also sent sprinter Dakota Gold to six wins on the Knavesmire. Reflecting on Arapaho Gold’s performance, Dods said, "Once he was out he settled nicely. At the midway point he was looking for a bit of room, and when it opened he accelerated brilliantly.
Connor told me the last 100 yards he gave the horse a little feel, and that’s when he surged away. He’s a great horse; this was a significant step up and he took it in stride. Whenever we’ve asked him to step up, he’s delivered.
He’s just a remarkable animal, isn’t he?" Looking ahead, Dods outlined the colt’s future campaign: "He’ll target the Mill Reef at Newbury later this season, and that will likely be his final run for the year. After that we’ll reassess for next year. He has the speed for six furlongs, as we’ve just seen, and I don’t anticipate any issues extending to seven furlongs.
He quickens nicely and gallops well. It’s an interesting puzzle to plan his program, but we’ll manage. Having a horse of his calibre in the yard is fantastic.
Our success at York this day sits alongside the two Mecca’s Angel victories and is truly unbelievable." Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, whose horse Final Objective finished second, praised the effort: "It was a massive run – you’re delighted when a horse produces a performance of that magnitude. A furlong out I thought he might win; he’s not always straightforward, and Hamad (Al Jehani) has done an excellent job training him.
This is a career‑best, so we’ll keep him busy." Brown added, "He was a bit erratic when he won at Thirsk last week and showed similar behaviour today, so we may fit a pair of cheekpieces. There’s a race in France, the Prix Eclipse, we could consider, but we’ll sit down and decide what’s best for him." Adrian Keatley commented on the third‑placed finisher, Hell Of A Spin: "He’s a hardy little horse who gives his all and consistently performs well in these quality contests. You’d like to think there’s a Group win in him someday; the trip and ground didn’t affect him – the winner simply accelerated away. He’s already placed in the Molecomb and Gimcrack.
We may look at a French race later in the season – we’ll keep trying." The Nunthorpe Stakes victory adds a new chapter to Wesley Ward’s transatlantic résumé, confirming that his American‑trained sprinters can thrive on the firm British turf. It also underscores the logistical challenges of modern racing, with Hernandez’s rapid helicopter dash to Heathrow illustrating the tight timelines that top‑level connections navigate. As the season progresses, fans will watch to see whether Bacio can replicate his York heroics on the world stage at the Pacific Classic, while Arapaho Gold and Hell Of A Spin continue to chase Group success in the coming months.