American sprinter Bacio surged ahead of his rivals from the start, delivering trainer Wesley Ward his inaugural victory 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 a win on the Knavesmire had always remained just out of reach.
He previously placed Acapulco second in 2015 and, two years later, saw Lady Aurelia cross the line a nose behind Marsha despite Frankie Dettori’s jubilant celebration. This time, Bacio, the 3/1 favourite, fulfilled Ward’s long‑standing ambition. Bacio entered the race after a spectacular win in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the Royal meeting in June.
Despite pre‑race worries about the rain‑softened turf, the three‑year‑old broke cleanly from the stalls and quickly asserted dominance. Jockey Juan Hernandez guided the colt to the front, and by the halfway point most of the field was already struggling to keep pace. Bacio never looked vulnerable, extending his lead to a decisive one‑and‑a‑quarter lengths ahead of the runner‑up, Starlust, when he crossed the finish line.
The victory sparked a flurry of activity for Hernandez. Almost as soon as he guided the horse up the York straight, he was whisked back to the weighing room to make a rapid exit.
He needed to catch a 6:30 p.m. flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles to join his connections for the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
To meet the tight schedule, Hernandez hopped onto a helicopter that lifted him from the middle of the Knavesmire straight to the airport, leaving him with barely a minute to spare. During a brief trophy presentation attended by the Queen, Hernandez praised the colt’s performance: "The horse gave everything and had trained brilliantly. He shipped very well; many were worried about the ground, but he didn’t feel it. He broke out of the gate sharp, full of fire.
I had to pull him back a little early, but saved him for the finish. He won from the gate and everyone here did a fantastic job with him. This win is for America and my family.
Thank you!" Bacio’s triumph was not the only story of the day. Arapaho Gold extended his unbeaten streak to four by winning the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes.
Trained by Michael Dods, the gelding had previously contested modest races at Thirsk and, after a brief withdrawal due to a stall incident at Beverley, stepped up to Listed company in the Rose Bowl at Newbury. In the Group Two contest, Arapaho Gold, under jockey Connor Beasley, faced a slight challenge from Final Objective but rallied strongly in the final furlong to win by three‑quarters of a length at 2/1 odds. Dods, a Darlington‑based trainer, has a rich history at York. He guided Mecca’s Angel to a second Nunthorpe victory a decade earlier and has sent out the popular sprinter Dakota Gold to win on the Knavesmire six times.
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, and when it opened he really quickened. Connor gave him a little feel in the last 100 yards and he responded beautifully.
He’s a good horse; this was a big step up and he took it in stride. When we wanted him to step up he did, and he’ll go to the Mill Reef at Newbury now, probably ending his season there. He has the speed for six furlongs and I think seven will be fine too. It’s an interesting puzzle, but we’ll manage.
It’s brilliant to have him in the yard; this win sits alongside the two Mecca’s Angel victories and is unbelievable." Richard Brown, racing advisor 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 been straightforward, but Hamad (Al Jehani) has done a great job training him. This is a career best and we’ll keep him busy." Brown added that the horse had shown a quirky temperament, wandering at Thirsk the previous week, and suggested a possible future campaign in France, mentioning the Prix Eclipse as a target.
He also hinted at equipment changes, saying, "We’ll pop a pair of cheekpieces on for the next start." Adrian Keatley, speaking about the third‑placed Hell Of A Spin, described the colt as a hardy little horse who always gives his all and runs consistently well in quality races. "You’d like to think there’s a nice one in him one of these days. The trip and ground weren’t a concern; the winner simply quickened away.
He’s already placed in the Molecomb and Gimcrack, and we may look at a race in France later in the season. We’ll keep trying," Keatley concluded. The day’s action highlighted the international nature of modern flat racing, with American‑trained Bacio delivering a historic win for Wesley Ward, while British and Irish connections celebrated their own successes.
The Nunthorpe Stakes, a prestigious five‑furlong sprint held each August at York, continues to attract top sprinters from across the globe, and this year’s edition added another memorable chapter to its storied history.