Crack sprinters Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) will square off for the third time in York's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday, Aug. 23.
The duo feature among 15 confirmations for the sprint contest, with the race an ideal setting to determine who holds supremacy between the pair. The Henry Dwyer-trained filly rattled home fourth in the G2 Temple Stakes at Haydock in May, before taking the G1 King Charles III Stakes by a length at Royal Ascot in June over Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Big Evs. Mick Appleby's Breeders' Cup-winning charge turned the tables on the Australian raider by a short head in the G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood, with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) third at the beginning of the month. Big Evs will be ridden by Tom Marquand.
Appleby said, “He's in good form. He's all ready for the Nunthorpe. It's going to be another tough race for us, but he can do his running. Hopefully the rain stays away from the course.
“It would be an amazing race to win, all Yorkshire trainers want to win the Nunthorpe. It would be a good achievement and I know Paul [Teasdale, owner] has been pretty keen to win the Nunthorpe for years. He lives near York, so it would mean a lot for him to win.”
Both last year's Nunthorpe hero Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) and recent French stakes winner and Nunthorpe-placed Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) are also in the mix for trainers Adam West and Archie Watson, respectively. Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), a winner over the minimum trip at listed level at York in July, has also been entered by Ralph Beckett, while Ed Walker will saddle Makarova (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).
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