Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes all set to sizzle!

Sole Power, seen here returning in triumph after the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in May, will be bidding for a second successive Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes after springing a 100-1 surprise in the race last year.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A fantastic field of 17 horses has been declared for Friday’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs at York, the fifth race in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint division.

The line-up includes the winners of the two earlier five furlong legs, Sole Power, who won the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in May and also landed last year’s Nunthorpe, and Prohibit, who won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

It will be fascinating to see how Hoof It, so impressive when winning the Stewards Cup under top weight at Goodwood last month, fares in his first venture into the top level of sprinting, while the fast-improving Masamah is similarly tackling Group 1 company for the first time after an impressive Group 2 victory on his latest start.

Bated Breath was a fine second in the Darley July Cup over six furlongs and has his first ever try over five this time. Could it be the making of him or will it all happen a bit too quickly for the talented four-year-old?

Perhaps most intriguing of all is the solitary two-year-old that has been declared in the only QIPCO British Champions Series race in which they are allowed to participate.

With a huge weight allowance to offset his disadvantage in size and strength, high class juvenile Requinto could prove very troublesome to his more experienced elders.

He was impressive when winning at Goodwood last time and is highly regarded by his trainer, David Wachman.

Perhaps even more significantly, he is owned by the partners in the Coolmore breeding operation, John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, who sponsor the race and would no doubt love to win it.

It is certain to be an enthralling and very open race and, given the fast, flat nature of York’s track, the winner will have every right to be considered the fastest sprinter in Europe.

If you can’t get along to York to enjoy the third day of the wonderful Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival then make sure you catch the race live on Channel 4 at 3.40pm. It’s going to be a sizzler!

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