Asfoora scoring the King Charles III (G1) in June. (Megan Coggin)
Winner of Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes to Receive Automatic Berth into Nov. 1-2 World Championships at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Release
YORK, U.K. ─ Noor Elaine Farm’s Asfoora (AUS) and the RP Racing-owned Big Evs (IRE) will take each other on for the third time this season Friday in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York. The winner of the 5-furlong showpiece is guaranteed an automatic starting position in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
It is one win apiece between the pair after Big Evs gained revenge on Asfoora when the duo fought out a thrilling finish to the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Goodwood. The Australian mare carried a Group 1 penalty that day following her success in the King Charles III Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. That win secured her an automatic starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
There will be no Group 1 penalty for Asfoora at York, but Big Evs’s connections remain confident about the chances of their 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) champion.
His trainer, local Yorkshireman Mick Appleby, said: “He’s in good form and he’s ready. It’s going to be another tough race for us, but he can do his running. Hopefully the rain stays away from the course. It would be an amazing race to win – all Yorkshire trainers want to win the Nunthorpe!”
The Highclere Thoroughbred-owned filly Believing (IRE) was less than 1 length behind the first two finishers at Goodwood. That run backed up what was an impressive performance when she won the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (G2) with ease at The Curragh. The Brightwalton Bloodstock-owned Makarova (GB) was 2 lengths behind her in third after being denied a clear run.
Steve & Jolene De’Lemos’ Live In The Dream (IRE) was a sensational winner of this race last year. The Adam West-trained 5-year-old will look to join the likes of Battaash (IRE), Mecca’s Angel (IRE), and Borderlescott (GB) in becoming a back-to-back winner of this contest. Third behind Live In The Dream last year, Victorious Racing’s Bradsell (IRE) made a belated but successful seasonal reappearance in the listed Prix du Cercle at Deauville earlier this month for Archie Watson under regular jockey Hollie Doyle.
Future Champions Racing’s Regional (GB) drops back in trip to 5 furlongs after his fourth placed effort in the Fidelity Energy Hackwood Stakes (G3) at Newbury. Starlust (GB) returns to a track he has already won at twice this year.
Hambleton Racing Ltd.’s Washington Heights (GB) has not been seen since Royal Ascot when he disappointed in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1). Peter Appleton & Mrs. Anne Elliott’s Azure Blue (IRE) is another locally trained contender who benefitted from the drop in trip to 5 furlongs for the first time when she won a listed contest at Ayr on her last start.
Middleham Park Racing’s Clarendon House (GB) produced a career-best effort to win July 14 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Midsummer Sprint Stakes (Listed) at Cork in Ireland. Abdulla Al Mansoori-owned Frost At Dawn, who won the March 2 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) at Meydan, will be making his first start in England this year.
The globetrotting Dr. Eva Nieslanikova-owned Ponntos (IRE) and Miss Kate McGivern-owned 4-year-old filly So Majestic (IRE) complete the field of 14.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes to start in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 furlongs at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
