Bacio answers the question in G1 Nunthorpe
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Any questions about York's easy ground were comprehensively answered by Bacio (Maclean's Music) as the US sensation did his pillar-to-post act in Friday's G1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.
Arguably Juan Hernandez's only anxious moment came in the stalls, with the 3-1 favourite momentarily upset and threatening to spoil the cross-Atlantic party before it even began but once composure was regained it was all about pace, pace and more pace in the event itself.
At the line, the Wesley Ward-trained 3-year-old who had burst onto the scene in Royal Ascot's Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap had 1.25 lengths to spare over Starlust (Zoustar), who nosed out Rumstar (Havana Grey) for second.
Bacio covered the first furlong of this “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 13 seconds dead, getting upwards of nearly two lengths on everything as a result with the first three sectionals completed in 34.8. His penultimate split of 11.85 ended the duel, affording him the luxury of deceleration on the run to the line as the Brits got going.
Juan Hernandez was typically humble before his quick exit via helicopter ahead of Saturday's Del Mar card. “That was some performance, all the credit goes to Bacio–I'm just happy to be here, enjoying the moment,” he said. “He was all fire, even before the gate he was trying to get ahead of the other guys, he kind of hit the gate a little bit but after that he was calm and he was ready.”
“That was some performance, all the credit goes to Bacio–I'm just happy to be here, enjoying the moment.” - Juan Hernandez
“When the gate opened, he was trying to go too early but I was able to take him back a little bit and save him for the last part. I want to say thanks to Wesley Ward for bringing me here, assistant Blake, the groom–they do a really beautiful job with this horse and thanks to everybody. Hopefully I can come back again, as it's really special. It's something I never imagined when I started riding back in Mexico, but I'm really happy and this race is for America and all of my family.”
Showing this pace when wiring allowance optional claimers at Del Mar in November and at Churchill in April, Bacio had set up this tilt when killing Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn) et al at the Royal meeting where the only drama came post-race due to Hernandez's misplaced overgirth. This time, the moment of concern came in the starting gate but due to the help of Ain't Nobody's rider Kevin Stott next door the US raider was stopped from doing something reckless and the show was ready.
Ward's daughter-in-law Caitlin Dunne said, “He is high-energy, a typical sprinter which is why we were happy to have Juan here as he knows him so well–that definitely paid off today. It's no small feat for Juan, as he has to be back at Del Mar for really important rides but he believed in the horse and was here to take care of him along with the whole team, Wesley's assistant Blake Heap and his groom Jose Reveles. It takes a village and they all showed up for him and Bacio showed up for us today.”
“Wesley has always been infatuated by running horses here and I can't imagine how he is feeling to get that pay-off, but what I do know is I am so proud of him and the whole team back home,” she added. “I know they are over the moon right now. He didn't meet his reserve at the Sale, so the breeders stayed in and when he showed promise they got an outside offer but Wesley said 'I can't lose this horse' and asked me if Michael Behrens would take a piece of him. He said 'absolutely' and thought it would be a really fun ride, so we got the deal done to keep the horse in the barn and it's worked out!”
“The My Racehorse concept has been so much fun and the owners are so passionate and will make this kind of trip,” Dunne concluded. “Bacio's keeping the airmiles very heavy in the account and we love it, but the Breeders' Cup is at home and just a short walk across the street to the starting gate–hopefully we'll show ourselves well there.”
Champion European Sprinter Asfoora (Flying Artie) was eighth and will be retired.
Pedigree: Bred by Borrowdale LLC (Andrew Cary), Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Avenue Equine, Knollwood Farm and Valerie Dailey, the winner who was also second in last year's Speakeasy Stakes is a son of the Summer Winds Stakes scorer Katie's Kiss (Kantharos). A half to the fellow Stakes winner Stonestreetsong (Songandaprayer), her 2-year-old filly Southern Kiss (Golden Pal) was a US$15,000 (AU$21,000) purchase by Blue Crevalle at the Ocala Spring Sale while she also has a colt foal by Arabian Knight.
First group winner for Bayside Boy in G2 Gimcrack Stakes
By Sean Cronin, TDN Europe
Carole Dods and Doug Graham's Listed Rose Bowl Stakes winner Arapaho Gold (Bayside Boy) continued on a roll and took his record to a perfect four-from-four when becoming freshman sire Bayside Boy's first Group winner in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.
“Once he was out and running I was happy,” said Michael Dods, who saddled Mecca's Angel to two Nunthorpe victories at this venue. “At halfway he was looking for a bit of room, but once the room came he really quickened up. Connor [Beasley] said he gave him some feel the way he quickened away from them in the last 100 yards. He's a good horse, this was a big step up and he's taken everything in his stride. When we've wanted him to step up he has and he has stepped up again there. He's just some horse isn't he?”
Outlining plans for the future, the trainer added, “He'll go to the [G2] Mill Reef [at Newbury] now, that will probably be it for the season and we'll see where we go next year. He's got the speed for six furlongs as you've just seen and I don't think you'll see any problems getting seven as he quickens up and he gallops. He's an exciting horse to have and it's brilliant that we've got him in the yard. We've had a lot of luck at York, but this is right up there with the two Mecca's Angel wins.”
Pedigree: Arapaho Gold, a €42,000 (AU$68,500) Goffs Orby Book 2 half-brother to a yearling filly by Coulsty, is the third of four foals and one of two scorers produced by a winning full-sister to Listed Jagersro Sprint third Lost My Sock (Bungle Inthejungle).
His dam Call Of The Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle), who hails from the family of sires Zafonic and Zamindar, is also kin to Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes victrix Company Asset (Fast Company) and to the dam of stakes-winning G3 Mercury Stakes third Funny Money Honey (Bungle Inthejungle).
