Alpha Delphini wins Nunthorpe Stakes, gains BC Turf Sprint berth

For the first time this year, Alpha Delphini was on the winning end of a photo in Friday’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse in England. But it took several minutes for judges to determine that 40-1 Alpha Delphini had finished the narrowest of noses in front of 14-1 Mabs Cross in the five-furlong race on a straightaway course.

Alpha Delphini won his first Group 1 in the $405,685 Nunthorpe Stakes in his 26th start for the Alpha Delphini Partnership and trainer Bryan Smart, who is based in Yorkshire. Alpha Delphini was second by a short head in the Achilles Stakes at five furlongs at Haydock Park on June 9, and second by a head in the City Walls Stakes at five furlongs at York on July 14.

The Nunthorpe Stakes was the first stakes win for Alpha Delphini since the minor Beverley Bullet Stakes at Beverley Racecourse, not far from York, in August 2016.

Alpha Delphini, ridden by Graham Lee, raced in the center of the track and toward the front in the field of 15. Alpha Delphini and Mabs Cross were clear of their rivals in the final 100 yards. Mabs Cross, a 4-year-old filly, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Blue Point, the winner of the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Battaash, the winner of the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on Aug. 3, finished fourth as the 4-5 favorite, beaten 2 1/2 lengths without incident.

The versatile Lee is well known for winning the 2004 Grand National steeplechase at 4 1/2 miles aboard Amberleigh House, but is now focused on riding flat races.

Alpha Delphini, a 7-year-old gelding by Captain Gerrard, earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 with the Nunthorpe win. Smart said after Friday’s race that Alpha Delphini’s next objective will be the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye, a 5-furlong turf race at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 7 worth approximately $406,770.

Earlier on the York program, Stradivarius won the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at 2 1/16 miles, earning a $1.28 million bonus for sweeping four turf marathons races in England since May.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainer John Gosden, Stradivarius (4-11) took the lead in the final furlong and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 14-1 Count Octave in the field of nine.

Owner Bjorn Nielsen said the same series will be a target in 2019 with Stradivarius, a 4-year-old colt.