Port of Call

Where Acapulco (Scat Daddy) is concerned, nobody is sure what to expect as the awesome G2 Queen Mary S. winner tackles a whole different ball game in Friday’s G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York.

With just two runs behind her–albeit one in a highly competitive renewal of the Royal Ascot feature for 2-year-old fillies June 17–Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s physically advanced juvenile lacks the kind of vital seasoning that is usually a prerequisite for these top sprints. What she does have is an abundance of speed and class and almost two stone in weight in hand on the grizzled older campaigners and trainer Wesley Ward is hopeful she can make that tell.

“I think she is really going to bring her A-game to the table. I don’t think there will be any excuses after the race,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way she has trained into it. She is extremely sound–she wouldn’t have a pimple on her. She is a big, imposing filly. Physically, she is so sound it’s like she is a four-year-old. She is just a big, monstrous individual and I am so extremely happy with her. I really didn’t think I’d ever have the right 2-year-old to bring over to take on older horses until now.”

Among those with a more traditional profile for the race is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from the all-conquering William Haggas stable. He beat Take Cover (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and last year’s G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Move In Time (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) in Goodwood’s G2 King George S. at this trip at the end of July and is capable of further improvement if the rain has not had too big an impact on the going.

“When I spoke to the trainer on Wednesday, we were hoping there wouldn’t be too much more rain,” the owner’s racing manager Angus Gold said. “We know he goes on fast ground. With York, nobody knows exactly what it’s going to be like on the day. I walked the track on Wednesday and it was in fantastic condition. It was just a pity that rain had come. Whether he will be as effective if it is dead, I don’t know. He’s a very fast horse and has got explosive speed. Maybe it won’t suit him, but there’s only one way of finding out.”

Tuesday night’s rain would also have been cursed by Eddie Lynam, who brings the 2010 and 2014 winner Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) back to the Knavesmire for what would be a remarkable hat-trick if he manages to hold back the years. Frankie Dettori takes over on the 8-year-old five-furlong specialist whose two season’s-best performances when winning the Mar. 28 G1 Al Quoz Sprint and finishing fourth in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket last time July 11 suggest he is still at or very near the top of the game.

Paddy Power, son of owners Sabena and David Power, commented, “Sole Power goes there as the reigning champ and I think he has a big chance again. Hopefully Acapulco will go off at a million miles an hour and set it up for him.”

With wins in the G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket May 2 and G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot June 16 from just three starts in 2015, Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is another who holds a lot of these rivals, including Muthmir and Sole Power, on form.

“He hasn’t run since Ascot, but that is because we didn’t want to carry a Group 1 penalty and felt that Goodwood probably wasn’t his track,” trainer Robert Cowell said. “He seems in excellent form and I am very happy with him. I’d like to think if all goes to plan, there shouldn’t be much between him and Muthmir.”