Kevin Blake of Sky Sports Racing returns to the York Ebor Festival with two selections for the third day of action, highlighted by a long‑shot 33/1 gamble in the Nunthorpe Stakes. By the time you read this, the Ebor meeting will be roughly at its midpoint.
Whether the festival has treated you kindly or not, there is still a wealth of high‑quality racing left to enjoy. The headline race for the afternoon is the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes, scheduled to kick off at 3:35 p.m. The sprint division across Europe has been notoriously unpredictable in recent years, with a string of high‑odds winners baffling bettors and leaving many scratching their heads.
The added element of rain that fell just before the race only heightens the probability of an upset, as softer ground often levels the playing field and rewards horses that can adapt quickly. With that backdrop in mind, 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 called STARLUST. Describing his career as "quirky" would be an understatement, but bear with me as I outline why he could be the day’s biggest value pick. Two seasons ago, Starlust was among the top performers over five furlongs, finishing a close third to Bradsell in this very race.
He later ran a gallant effort in the Prix de l'Abbaye, holding his own until the finish, and then claimed his most prestigious victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Those performances marked him as a genuine Group‑class sprinter. After a respectable fourth place in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, Starlust was retired to a stud career in Australia, where he covered roughly 70 mares. Unfortunately, his fertility was disappointing, prompting his owners to make 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 there have been a handful of successful examples, and Starlust’s recent form suggests he is on an upward trajectory. He made his comeback at Carlisle, where he showed a glimpse of his old speed, and although the King Charles III Stakes did not go his way, he displayed significant improvement when wearing a visor for the first time, finishing a close fourth in a Listed event over the same distance and surface.
York has historically been a favorable venue for Starlust, particularly when the ground is on the softer side. His previous runs at this course have demonstrated that he handles the undulating straight and the tight bends with ease.
If he can rediscover his Group‑1 form, the Nunthorpe could provide the perfect platform for a lucrative upset at 33/1. Turning to the second selection, the British Stallion Farms EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (run at 4:45 p.m.) is one of the richest maiden contests on the calendar and has attracted a high‑quality field. Among the entries, the most noteworthy is the Aidan O'Brien‑trained colt OKLAHOMA, a son of Wootton Bassett out of the mare Hydrangea. Oklahoma impressed on debut, finishing second to the promising Giant Sequoia, a race that also produced several subsequent winners.
He was then sent off as a short‑priced favorite in a maiden at Killarney, where he narrowly missed victory, finishing third in a race that has since proved to be a solid stepping stone for many. The addition of cheekpieces and the larger, more forgiving track at York should suit his running style, giving him a better chance to dominate a field that, while strong, contains several untested or lightly raced horses. In summary, my day‑three picks are: 1.
**STARLUST** – 33/1 in the Nunthorpe Stakes. A former Group‑1 winner with a bizarre career path, a proven affinity for York, and a chance to capitalize on the softened ground. 2.
**OKLAHOMA** – A leading contender in the Convivial Maiden, backed by top trainer Aidan O'Brien and equipped with equipment changes that could sharpen his performance. Both selections combine proven talent with a dash of novelty, offering punters the opportunity to back a horse that may deliver a memorable return on investment. Good luck and enjoy the remainder of the Ebor Festival!