British sprinter Kyllachy takes Nunthorpe Stakes

Kyllachy came from last to first to land the five-furlong Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Thursday.

For Kyllachy, it was his fourth victory in five starts this year. A son of Pivotal trained by Henry Candy, he has shown a consistency rare in the ranks of British sprinters. He had previously taken the Group 3 Palace House Stakes and the Group 2 Temple Stakes, both at the Nunthorpe distance.

The 3-1 favorite, Kyllachy was given a brilliant ride by Jamie Spencer to beat Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Malhub by a half-length. Group 1 July Cup winner Continent was fourth, while Dominica, who had beaten Kyllachy in the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes, was fifth, just 1 3/4 lengths behind. Given the good to firm going, the time of 58.10 seconds was rather pedestrian.

Candy expects Kyllachy to be more impressive on soft ground, which is what he will probably find on Oct. 6 in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.

Russian Rhythm overcame reams of trouble to win the six-furlong Group 2 Lowther Stakes for juvenile fillies by 1 1/4 lengths over Danaskaya. The odds-on choice was blocked halfway through and checked a furlong later before steered clear by rider Kieren Fallon to improve her record to 3 for 3. A daughter of Kingmambo trained by Michael Stoute, Russian Rhythm had previosuly won the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes and will now aim for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 4.