The Group I Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) at York overnight had a short priced favourite in Aussie mare Asfoora, who could not quite get the job done finishing a close up fourth to Bradsell, while last year’s Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban (FR) showed he was back to top form winning the Group II Lonsdale Cup Stakes (2m).
Winner of last year’s Group I King’s Stand Stakes and third in this race last year, Bradsell has had a quieter start to this year only having his first run this preparation with a Listed victory at Deauville at the start of August.
Trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Hollie Doyle, Bradsell was ready to fire at York and the four year-old son of Tasleet scored a three-quarter length win over Believing with three year-old Zoustar colt Starlust in third place, just ahead of Asfoora.
“It's pretty incredible to be honest, a lot of hard work's gone into this horse. Bradsell suffered a fracture in early February and had surgery on a cannon bone, so his comeback was less than six months later. It's been unreal. He's an incredibly special horse, you know,” said Archie Watson.
Another successful purchase for Blandford Bloodstock, he was bought for 47,000 pounds from the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale and is the best of two winners from juvenile stakes-winner Russian Punch. He has the overall record of five wins and three placings from 10 starts.
He is the first G1 winner for his sire Tasleet, a Group II winning son of Showcasing was at Shadwell before being relocated to India this year.
The connections of Asfoora were disappointed not to add another Group I win or placing to her resume.
“Asfoora has run well but she was 6-4 favourite so you like to see those ones win. She didn't so we're probably a little bit disappointed but it's not as though she's run tenth,” said Henry Dwyer.
“She's run well but probably not as well as her last couple. I didn't like her last 50 metres, she was there to run second or at least third and she was a little bit plain in that last little bit. Whether she's reached her peak or she's on the way down, or whether she didn't like the track, I'm not sure.
“We might go to Ireland for the Flying Five but if anything comes out of the run and we're not happy with her she'll be going home.”
The Group II Lonsdale Cup Stakes saw the Willie Mullins trained Vauban return to winning form.
"The ticket for Australia is not quite booked, but it has been our intention all season and we said we'd work back from the Melbourne Cup," said winning owner, Rich Ricci.
"I don't know what Willie wants to do next, he's got an entry in the Irish St Leger, but Melbourne still remains the plan, we'll see what the handicapper does.
"He was very good today, he was ready to rock, he looked a picture and showed a great turn of foot.”
