Bradsell roars to second Group 1 victory in Nunthorpe
Last year’s King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) hero Bradsell (4 c Tasleet – Russian Punch by Archipenko) doubled his Group 1 tally on Friday when dominating proceedings in Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at York.
Having run third in the Nunthorpe following last year’s King’s Stand Stakes success, the son of Tasleet (Showcasing) then disappointed when only seventh of ten in the Flying Five Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at the Curragh on his final outing as a three-year-old.
Returning to the track as a four-year-old following a lengthy absence, Bradsell proved his well-being when comfortably landing a Listed event at Deauville on August 4, cementing his position in Friday’s line-up.
Ridden by usual partner Hollie Doyle for Archie Watson, the colt tracked the pacesetting Ponntos (Power) on the far-side of the track and, having taken the lead with over a furlong left to run, quickened away and was in no danger to the line, beating Believing (Mehmas) by three-quarters of a length. Starlust (Zoustar) finished just a head further back in third place, edging out the disappointing favourite Asfoora (Flying Artie).
“He’s unbelievable,” the winning rider said. “He is definitely the comeback kid. All credit to Archie and the team back home. They have done an unbelievable job with him. You can never underestimate horses or what Archie does with them. We have had some great days and this is another one of them.
“I was quite confident, I thought we had a right chance. Earlier in the week I said it was the best he has ever felt and he feels like a different horse.
“This means everything to me, riding winners for my boss. He has been so loyal, this is what I do it for, days like this.”
Watson expressed his delight with the result and was quick to pay tribute to the team who nursed Bradsell back to health after he sustained an injury at the beginning of the year during his preparation for Dubai’s Al Quoz Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m).
“He was galloping for a prep run at Southwell and galloped very well and was just sore coming back. He was found to have fractured a canon bone and had surgery in early February,” said the winning trainer.
“At that point I thought; ‘Save him and he can be a stallion next year.’ But he took every stage of his rehab very well and it is pretty phenomenal to have him back. The vets have done a phenomenal job and my whole team, to have him back means a lot.
“He is an incredibly special horse and he means the world to all of us – it is an amazing day to have him back and winning another Group 1.”
Henry Dwyer was unsure whether his Royal Ascot-winning mare Asfoora would be seen again in the northern hemisphere this season after the six-year-old could only manage fourth.
Having landed the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at the royal meeting in June, Asfoora then nearly doubled up when just a short-head behind old rival Big Evs (Blue Point) when conceding a Group 1 penalty in the King George Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Goodwood.
Sent off the well-supported 6-4 favourite for Friday’s Group 1 sprint, Asfoora tracked the pace on the near-side of the track under Oisin Murphy, but could never get to runaway winner Bradsell.
Following the race, a reflective Dwyer said: “He [Murphy] made mention of the track, that it was suitable firmness wise, but it just feels like after three days of racing it is quite chopped out and he didn’t feel like she could get traction. He might be looking for excuses, we are probably looking for excuses but that was what he was hanging his hat on to an extent.
“I will have to watch the replay but it just looked like Ponntos quickened away from them early and Bradsell tracked him and we couldn’t quite go. I thought her last 50 was pretty plain anyway.
“We never make a decision on raceday but she sort of probably hasn’t gone forward from where she was last time so it is hard to arrest things unless you have got a genuine excuse and we won’t know if it is a genuine excuse for the next couple of days.
“We will have a think about things and see what we do going forward. Whether she has reached her peak and she is on the way down, or whether she didn’t like the track I don’t know.”
When questioned on whether a trip over to the US for the Breeders’ Cup was still a possibility, Dwyer replied: “I wouldn’t be thinking we will be going to the Breeders’ Cup. If there was an option we might go to Ireland for the Flying Five, but if anything comes out of the run and we are not happy with her she will be going home.”