Nunthorpe Stakes Runners - Can Hosts Repel Australian Threat on Group 1 Prize?

A smaller field than the previous season will contest the 2024 edition of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting on Friday, 23rd August. The showpiece race on day three of the meeting can be contested by all age groups, even two-year-olds, although there are none within the youngest generation attempting to upstage the big guns this season, as 15 remain in a race that 16 took to the Knavesmire for a year ago.

Australia-based mare Asfoora, who has been campaigned in Britain throughout the season, is the standout name, with trainer Henry Dwyer being keen on this race from the outset. She won the only other 5f Group 1 in the UK this season when taking the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the team seem bullish about her doubling up here.

She was narrowly denied another success in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood by home favourite Big Evs, with whom there is a rivalry growing. Mick Appleby’s star has won six of his nine career races, one of his defeats coming here as a juvenile last term. However, he is much more the finished article now, but will have to concede weight to Asfoora for the first time in this race.

Last year’s winner Live In The Dream has not won since this race 12 months ago, but is well-suited by the bias towards prominent racers here. The third, fourth and fifth that day, Bradsell, Makarova and Regional are all also set to return.

Further international interest may come from Ponntos from the Czech Republic, although there is a significant dearth of Irish challengers, with only Kate McGivern’s rank outsider So Majestic among the 15 in contention.

Nunthorpe Stakes 2024 Runners

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