American sprinter Bacio surged ahead of his rivals from the start, delivering trainer Wesley Ward his inaugural win in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Ward, a well‑known figure on the Keeneland circuit, has amassed thirteen victories at Royal Ascot, yet a win on the Knavesmire had always slipped through his fingers. He previously guided Acapulco to a runner‑up finish in 2015 and saw Lady Aurelia lose by a nose in 2017, a moment famously captured as Frankie Dettori celebrated only to discover he had been beaten at the line. Entering the race as the 3/1 favourite, Bacio was backed to finally break that York hoodoo.
The three‑year‑old, having just claimed a spectacular victory in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the Royal meeting in June, was paired with jockey Juan Hernandez. Pre‑race chatter focused on the rain‑softened turf, but those worries vanished the moment the gates opened. Bacio exploded from the stalls, quickly establishing a decisive lead. From the halfway point onward, his competitors struggled to match his pace.
Bacio never appeared vulnerable; he maintained a comfortable margin and crossed the finish line a length and a quarter ahead of the second‑placed Starlust. The performance was a textbook example of front‑running dominance, with Hernandez timing the run perfectly and keeping the colt relaxed yet ready to accelerate when needed.
The victory, however, was only the beginning of a hectic afternoon for Hernandez. After guiding Bacio to the win, he was rushed back to the weighing room to make a swift exit. A 6:30 p.m.
flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles awaited him, part of his schedule ahead of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. To catch that flight, Hernandez boarded a helicopter from the middle of the Knavesmire straight to Heathrow, leaving him with barely a minute to spare. During a brief trophy presentation before the Queen, Hernandez praised the colt, saying, "The horse gave everything and had been trained superbly.
He handled the ground beautifully – everyone was nervous about the soft turf, but he didn’t mind it at all. He broke out of the gate sharply, full of fire. I had to pull him back a little early on, but that saved him for the final stages. He won from the gate, and everyone involved did a fantastic job.
This win is for America and my family. Thank you!" In other news from the meeting, Arapaho Gold extended his unbeaten streak to four by winning the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes. The Michael Dods‑trained gelding had previously contested modest races at Thirsk, experienced a setback after misbehaving in the stalls at Beverley, and then stepped up to Listed class in the Rose Bowl at Newbury.
For the Group Two contest at York, he faced a further elevation in class but rose to the occasion under jockey Connor Beasley. After a brief moment of pressure, Arapaho Gold found his rhythm, accelerating strongly to hold off Final Objective by three‑quarters of a length, starting at 2/1 odds. Dods, based in Darlington, has a storied history at York.
He saddled Mecca's Angel to claim her second Nunthorpe victory a decade earlier and sent out the popular sprinter Dakota Gold to six wins on the Knavesmire. Reflecting on Arapaho Gold’s performance, Dods said, "Once he was out and running I was happy. At halfway he was looking for a bit of room, but once the gap opened he really quickened up. Connor told me the last 100 yards he gave him some feel, and he responded beautifully.
He’s a good horse, this was a big step up and he handled it with ease. When we ask him to step up, he does it.
He’s just a wonderful horse, isn’t he?" Looking ahead, Dods outlined the colt’s future campaign: "He’ll go to the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury next, and that will likely be the end of his season. After that we’ll decide on next year’s targets. He has the speed for six furlongs, as you saw, and I don’t think seven furlongs will be a problem.
He quickens and gallops nicely. It’s an interesting puzzle, but we’ll sort it out. Having him in the yard is brilliant.
Our York successes – two Mecca’s Angel wins and now this – are among the best moments of my career." Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, whose horse Final Objective finished second, praised his runner’s effort: "It was a massive run, a race that makes you delighted because the horse gave everything. A furlong out I thought he might win. He’s not always straightforward, but Hamad (Al Jehani) has done a great job training him, and this is a career‑best performance for the colt.
We’ll keep him busy." Brown also discussed future plans: "He wandered a bit when he won at Thirsk last week, and again here, so we’ll probably add a pair of cheekpieces. There’s a race in France – the Prix Eclipse – we could target, but we’ll sit down and decide what’s best for him." Adrian Keatley, commenting on the third‑placed Hell Of A Spin, added: "He’s a hardy little horse who gives his heart out and runs consistently well in these quality races. You’d like to think there’s a Group one in him one day.
The trip and ground weren’t concerns; the winner simply quickened away. He’s already placed in a Molecomb and Gimcrack. There could be a race in France later in the season – we’ll keep trying." Overall, the day highlighted the international flavor of York’s sprinting program, with American‑trained Bacio delivering a landmark victory for Wesley Ward, while British connections celebrated home‑grown talent in Arapaho Gold and Hell Of A Spin.
The performances underscored the importance of adaptability – from soft ground to tight travel schedules – and set the stage for exciting campaigns in the autumn and beyond.