American contender 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. While Ward, a well‑known figure from Keeneland, has amassed 13 victories at Royal Ascot, success on the Knavesmire had previously eluded him.
He had previously guided Acapulco to a runner‑up finish in 2015 and, two years later, Lady Aurelia almost clinched the title, only to be edged out by a nose when Frankie Dettori celebrated prematurely. Entering the race as the 3/1 favourite, Bacio was expected to improve on his impressive Palace of Holyroodhouse win at the Royal meeting in June. Pre‑race doubts about the rain‑softened turf quickly vanished as the three‑year‑old broke cleanly from the stalls. Under the guidance of jockey Juan Hernandez, Bacio quickly asserted dominance, pulling away from the field by the halfway point and never looking vulnerable.
He crossed the finish line a length and a quarter ahead of the second‑placed Starlust, confirming his superiority. The victory set off a whirlwind of logistical challenges for Hernandez. After guiding Bacio to the win, he was required to rush back to the weighing room and then catch a 6:30 p.m.
flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles, where he would compete in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. To meet the tight schedule, Hernandez boarded a helicopter from the middle of the Knavesmire to Heathrow, leaving no time to waste. During a brief trophy presentation, Hernandez praised the colt, saying, "The horse gave everything; he had trained brilliantly.
He shipped very well, despite many concerns about the ground, and he didn’t seem to notice it at all. He broke out of the gate sharply and was full of fire. I had to pull him back a little early, but that saved him for the final stages. He won the race from the gate and everyone here has done a fantastic job with him.
This win is for America and my family. Thank you!" The day also featured a standout performance from Arapaho Gold, who extended his unbeaten streak to four wins by taking the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes. Trained by Michael Dods, the gelding had previously captured two modest races at Thirsk, experienced a stall mishap at Beverley, and then stepped up to Listed class in the Rose Bowl at Newbury. In the Group Two contest, Arapaho Gold, ridden by Connor Beasley, briefly faced pressure but recovered swiftly, edging out Final Objective by three‑quarters of a length at 2/1 odds.
Dods, based in Darlington, has a storied history at York. A decade earlier, he guided Mecca's Angel to a second Nunthorpe victory on the same day, and he has also saddled 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 satisfied. At halfway he was looking for a bit of room, and when it opened he accelerated. Connor told me the last 100 yards he gave him a little feel and the horse 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 again. He’s just a wonderful horse, isn’t he?" Looking ahead, Dods outlined the colt’s future campaign: "He’ll head to the Mill Reef at Newbury next, which will probably be the end of his season, and we’ll reassess for next year.
He has the speed for six furlongs, as you’ve seen, and I don’t foresee any issues extending him to seven. He quickens and gallops with great ease. Planning his program is an interesting puzzle, but we’ll manage.
Having him in the yard is exciting, and it’s fantastic that we’ve retained him. Our luck at York has been exceptional, but this win ranks alongside the two Mecca's Angel victories—truly unbelievable." Richard Brown, racing advisor to Wathnan Racing, whose horse Final Objective finished second, praised the runner‑up’s effort: "It was a massive run, a race that makes you delighted because the horse gave everything. A furlong out I thought he would win; he’s not always straightforward, and Hamad (Al Jehani) has done a great job training him.
This is a career‑best performance, so we’ll keep him busy." Brown added, "He wandered a bit when he won at Thirsk last week and again here, so we may 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, said, "He’s a hardy little horse who gives his heart and runs consistently well in these quality races. You’d like to think there’s a Group‑one potential in him one day; the trip or ground weren’t concerns, the winner simply quickened away.
He’s already placed in the Molecomb and Gimcrack, and we might look at a French race later in the season. We’ll keep trying." Overall, the Nunthorpe meeting highlighted the international nature of modern sprint racing, with an American‑trained colt delivering a decisive victory on British soil, while domestic trainers and owners celebrated home‑grown talent. The event also underscored the logistical challenges faced by jockeys and trainers who must balance racing commitments across continents, as exemplified by Hernandez’s rapid transition from York to an intercontinental flight.
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