Kingsgate Native beats elders in Nunthorpe

Kingsgate Native, a 2-year-old maiden making his third start, gave his elders a thrashing at York on Thursday, speeding to victory in the five-furlong Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

In defeating Desert Lord by 1 3/4 lengths, Kingsgate Native became the fifth juvenile to win the $438,000 Nunthorpe, the last being the filly Lyric Fantasy in 1992. The 9-4 favorite, Dandy Man, was third.

A 2-year-old son of Mujadil trained by John Best - who was in Florida for Ocala's select yearling sale - Kingsgate Native also had the hot 9-4 favorite, Dandy Man, back in third with last year's winner, Reverence, a badly beaten last of 16.

Ridden by Jimmy Quinn, the 12-1 Kingsgate Native, who was receiving 24 pounds from Desert Lord, was timed in 58.14 seconds on ground labeled good, good to firm in places.

Second by a head in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in his debut, Kingsgate Native had been just a neck second in the five-furlong Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood three weeks ago. He now makes a prime candidate for this year's five-furlong Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp against older horses on Arc Day, Oct. 7.

Another maiden won York's co-feature, the Group 2, $169,000 Lowther Stakes for juvenile fillies. The 7-1 Nahoodh, trained by Michael Channon and ridden by Jamie Spencer, came from last to first to take the six-furlong dash by a half length from the 3-2 choice, Visit, previously the winner of the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes. You'resothrilling, who had Nahoodh back in 12th when he won the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes, weakened to finish ninth after being slammed into the rail at the quarter pole.