The Group I Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) at York was always going to be an interesting race and while the fairytale swansong win for Asfoora failed to eventuate there was still a great contest with a US bred 3YO scoring a dazzling win and there was a return to form for a Zoustar stallion that covered mares in Australia last spring.
Astute USA trainer Wesley Ward rarely ventures to Europe without a horse that can win and lightning fast colt Bacio showed his talents at Royal Ascot when winning a handicap race over 5f.
Having his first run since then, Bacio started favourite and proved too sharp, kicking away from his rivals for Juan Hernandez and holding on to win by a length and a quarter over Starlust, who spent last spring at Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley and covered 102 mares.
Asfoora was unsuited by the slow track, but was brave in defeat and finished eighth. She is now looking at retirement following a glittering career that saw her crowned Champion European Sprinter of 2025.
“That was some performance. Even before the gate Bacio was trying to get ahead of the other guys. When the gates opened he was all fire. He was trying to go too early but I was able to take him back and save him for the last part,” said Juan Hernandez.
“Thanks to Wesley Ward for taking me here. It's really special and never something I imagined would happen to me when I started racing in Mexico.”
Bacio runs for a syndicate that includes the US version of Myracehorse and has the overall record of five wins and a second from six starts with this victory his first in a stakes race.
He is the 47th stakes-winner for Distorted Humor stallion Macleans Music and is the best of three winners from stakes-winner Katie’s Kiss.
