THERE is little doubt that the highlight of day one of Newmarket’s July meeting was the runaway success of Nostrum in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.
The Kingman colt hadn’t been sighted since filling third position in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on the Rowley Mile nine months earlier. Held up in the spring by a minor issue, which meant any plans to run in the 2000 Guineas were abandoned, he returned to the fray in a mile event which had been won by the brilliant Baaeed two years ago.
Trying the trip for the first time and reunited with Ryan Moore, Nostrum made all the running, produced an impressive sectional of 10.92 seconds during the penultimate furlong before lengthening away to win by three lengths, bursting some bubbles of those in behind in the process.
His toiling opponents included the previously unbeaten pair Embesto and Imperial Emperor. Interviewed afterwards, Sir Michael Stoute wouldn’t be drawn on future plans but suggested a mile and a quarter won’t be an issue, hence his entry in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
More immediately, he has the option of taking on Paddington and co in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (August 2nd) but that may come too soon.
The Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville (August 13th) is considered more likely, although soft ground is an unknown, with connections suggesting he will remain over a mile for the time being.
Alternatively, the 10 times champion trainer has both Bay Bridge and his Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown entered in the Group 1 International Stakes at York (August 23rd). The former needs ease in the ground, according to Stoute, while the latter is back in full work but hasn’t raced since chasing home Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown at the end of May.
Given the fact the International is sponsored by Juddmonte, it is not beyond the realms of possibility Nostrum is supplemented for the extended 10 furlongs contest. Stoute isn’t averse to adding one of his string to a prestigious prize as demonstrated by Passenger in the Dante and Derby earlier this term. As discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago, the opening day of the Ebor Festival is one of his favourite days in the calendar.
ONE of the first ‘Tote’ Ebor Handicap’s at York I can recall attending was in 1991 when a young fledging 5lb apprentice Franny Norton ‘steered’ Deposki to an easy five lengths victory.
Owned by Trinidadian Winfield Scott and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the three-year-old was only carrying seven stones three with stable jockey Walter Swinburn unable to do the weight.
The triple Derby winning rider later remarked: “On the day itself he was a 12/1 shot but he had the race won before he even entered the starting stalls. I couldn’t do the weight – I would have had to cut off an arm and the rest. The yard’s money was down big time. Let’s just say I didn’t lose any money, either.”
Showpiece
In total, Stoute has won the Knavesmire’s showpiece race on three occasions but not since 1996. Everyone at Freemason Lodge will be keeping their fingers crossed that recent Ascot winner Real Dream gets to line up in the now Sky Bet sponsored event on Saturday, August 26th.
The lightly raced Lope De Vega gelding was a four and a quarter lengths winner at Ascot last weekend off a mark of 91. Raised 8lb since, a rating of 100 was required to run in the 2022 renewal.
Finishing strongly
A 430,000gns purchase, the four-year-old has only raced on half a dozen occasions, winning cosily at Kempton in early May before finishing strongly in third in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap a fortnight later.
A length behind Scampi, he returned from a two months break at Ascot on Saturday and relished the step up to a mile and six. Despite shouldering 9st 12lb, Richard Kingscote’s mount readily brushed aside a handful of opponents to win with any amount in hand. Successful on fast and slow ground, he is unbeaten over the trip and handles large fields.
If connections feel Real Dream isn’t going to ‘make the cut’, Sir Michael Stoute may elect to run him in the £100,000 Coral Summer Handicap at Goodwood (1m 6f) three weeks before the Ebor in order to incur a penalty.
Otherwise, they are likely to sit on their hands and pray he slips in at the foot of the weights. He may not be as big a certainty as Deposki 32 years ago, and he definitely won’t be carrying 7st 3lb, but it would be folly to look elsewhere, if he is amongst the final field and Ryan Moore is on board.
Legend can add to rich history
THE Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs on the second day of Newmarket’s July Stakes was previously known as the Strutt & Parker Maiden Stakes for juveniles.
During the last 30 years, it has attracted future household names such as Colonel Collins (winner in 1993), Alhaarth beat Mark of Esteem two years later, Dubai Destination (2001), Rio De La Plata (2007) and Elusive Pimpernel (2009) also figure on its roll of honour, while Postponed could only finish fifth 10 years ago.
The race may not have laid the platform to many subsequent stars in recent times, but the latest renewal may halt that trend with the Andrew Balding-trained Arabic Legend creating a favourable impression on his debut.
Homebred, he is a colt by Dubawi out of the E.P. Taylor Stakes winner Sheikha Reika and, having had an issue with the stalls on his intended first start at Doncaster last month, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned runner made no mistake under Rob Hornby.
Smooth headway
Drawn towards the near side in stall 3, he made smooth headway and, despite drifting to his left when meeting the rising ground, stayed on strongly to beat the well touted Godolphin runner Emperor’s Star by a length and three quarters.
The race was run on rain softened ground, described as good to soft following approximately 2mm of rain late morning, according to the clerk of the course. The winning time was nothing out of the ordinary with Arabic Legend covering the last three furlongs in 36.73 seconds.
However, the form looks solid with a further three lengths separating the second and third. The bronze medal was claimed by the twice raced Dallas Star who was beaten less than three lengths in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on his previous run.
The Kingsclere outfit won the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York (August 23rd) last season with their subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean and the seven furlongs contest is expected to be Arabic Legend’s next port of call.
The Charlie Appleby-trained runner-up is entered in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh but he, too, could head to the Ebor Festival for the £100,000 Convivial Maiden Stakes two days later.