Jack Dawling
It’s 18 years since Kingsgate Native became the last two-year-old winner of the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1000m) and Ger Lyons’ filly Lady Iman will bid to follow suit after her impressive win at Glorious Goodwood last month.
Lady Iman showed bundles of speed when she blazed to victory in the G3 Molecomb Stakes (1000m) on the South Downs and she will look to emulate the great pocket rocket Lyric Fantasy, who took her record to five wins from as many starts with a remarkable performance on the Knavesmire in 1992 under just 107 pounds.
Like Richard Hannon senior’s filly 33 years ago, Lady Iman will be in receipt of plenty of weight from her rivals. That is, with the exception of the Michael Bell-trained juvenile, Spicy Marg, who was supplemented for the race after a powerful victory over five furlongs at Goodwood, which she achieved in a faster time than Lady Iman but while carrying 1lb less.
Lady Iman and Spicy Marge will carry 114 pounds under Colin Keane and Harry Bentley, respectively.
Trainer Richard Hughes is having a marvellous season and he will hope to collect a second Group 1 with his improving three-year-old Sayidah Dariyan, who flashed home for an impressive Group 3 win at this venue in July.
Another three-year-old worth watching closely is Arizona Blaze, who only found Time For Sandals too strong in the Commonwealth Cup but went one better in convincing fashion at the Curragh last time out.
NAP: R6 #9 Naval Light
David Morgan
Ombudsman’s impressive win in Wednesday’s G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York reminded everyone not only of the brilliance of his Royal Ascot victory in June, but also of the punch packed by the combined force of Godolphin, the operation’s number one jockey William Buick, and the John and Thady Gosden training duo.
That group combines again with another Royal Ascot hero, the Gold Cup winner Trawlerman, who heads a field of six in the G2 Lonsdale Cup. The Gosden stable has won the race four times, all in the last decade and three of those with the champion Stradivarius, while Buick has two wins in the race, but the Godolphin blue is seeking a first win.
Trawlerman has beaten half of these rivals in winning his last two races, but while a drop back to two miles should not be an issue, he does have to shoulder a 3lb penalty.
He hasn’t faced Al Qareem, though. The York specialist is high-class on his day and his two most recent runs, both wins, took his track record to three from five starts. He even defeated subsequent G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking at Chester back in 2023 when she was a three-year-old on the cusp of Group 1 success.
The only horse in the Lonsdale Cup that doesn’t fit the aging and exposed profile is the three-year-old Shackleton. The last three-year-old to win was the very classy Double Eclipse way back in 1995, but the big weight allowance and Shackleton’s recent second at the Curragh, albeit five lengths behind Al Riffa, suggests he should be a factor too.
NAP: R2 #1 Trawlerman
Andrew Hawkins
The G2 Gimcrack Stakes, for two-year-olds over six furlongs, is renowned as a launching pad for future sprinters. However, it has been more mixed in recent years.
Of the nine winners since 2016, four have gone on to Group 1 glory as older horses – most notably Blue Point – while Lusail was a head away from making it five. Lake Forest also went on to win the rich Golden Eagle in Australia.
Likely favourite Do Or Do Not remains a maiden after five starts although has been placed in Group 2 races at his last three outings: the Coventry Stakes at Ascot behind Gstaad and the July Stakes at Newmarket and the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, both behind Zavateri.
He returns to six furlongs after stepping up to seven furlongs last time out and, with no Gstaad or Zavateri here, this is his opportunity to gain a first win – let alone a first Group race victory.
Fresh from withdrawing from Australian racing, owner Sheikh Obaid has two runners here as he cements his British portfolio. Reciprocated was impressive to start his career but finished last at Ascot last time out while Rock On Thunder was three and a half lengths behind Do Or Do Not in the Coventry. ∎
NAP: R2 #1 Trawlerman
