Nunthorpe Betting: Wizz Kid to show dash in York sprint

Timeform Features
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Adam Brookes /
14 August 2011 /
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Can Wizz Kid become the first French-trained Nunthorpe winner since Nuclear Debate (pictured) in 2000?

“Wizz Kid has only had five career starts and shouldn’t be underestimated, particularly if the ground is on the soft side.”

A maiden juvenile, an old boy with a dodgy back, and a 100/1 outsider complete the three horses to have won the five-furlong Group 1 Nunthorpe at York in the last four years. Timeform run the rule over this year’s contenders…

Whilst Frankel was obviously the first name on the lips of most at Timeform HQ after the Glorious Goodwood meeting, he was hotly pursued by relative new-kid-on-the-sprinting-block Hoof It, whose performance when winning the Stewards’ Cup off top weight was described by handicapper David Johnson as “one of the handicap performances of all time”. A big, strong gelding who has benefited greatly from the patient approach (yet to race in pattern company), Hoof It, who was recently supplemented by connections, is well up to making his mark at this level in a race that his trainer Mick Easterby won with Lochnager in 1976.

Heading the opposition is a clutch of sprinters proven at the highest level, the first of which, Sole Power, is back to defend his crown having won this race as a 100/1 shot (BSP of [262.85]) last year. Sole Power proved that victory was no fluke when producing similar performance to land the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May and, with excuses for his below-par effort in the King’s Stand (ground not firm enough) at Royal Ascot and a listed race (caught on wrong part of track) at the Curragh on his last two starts, it’d be no shock to see him go very close again, especially as he’s likely to get the strong pace that suits.

Fellow Group 1 winner Prohibit showed he’s more than capable when things drop right by winning the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot last time and, like Sole Power, is going to be well suited by the lightning-quick gallop. Extremely consistent, Prohibit has earned the right to be considered in this illustrious company but is going to need lady luck on his side in the latter stages of the race.

With Bated Breath not a certain runner after a reported setback and Roger Varian stating the race will come too soon for the enigmatic Elzaam, Masamah completes the top bracket of older contenders. A front-runner who utilised his early pace to best advantage when winning the King George Stakes (beat Amour Propre 1¾ lengths) at Goodwood last time, Masamah has more on his plate here with a number of fellow trailblazers to contend with, but is in form of his life and, consequently, difficult to discount.

Kingsgate Native was the most recent juvenile Nunthorpe winner in 2007 and bidding to emulate him this year is Bapak Chinta. Kevin Ryan’s colt beat subsequent Windsor Castle and July Stakes winner Frederick Engels when winning a Hamilton maiden on debut and confirmed himself a most exciting prospect when landing the 15-runner Norfolk Stakes (soft ground) at Royal Ascot in June. Ground firmer than good would be a question mark, but he very much comes into reckoning in receipt of a significant weight allowance.

Should he be supplemented, Molecomb winner Requinto will also receive that same weight concession. However, whilst a three-time winner over the minimum trip, Requinto was unable to go the early gallop in that Goodwood Group 3 and the likelihood of him finding it any easier against older horses is slim.

The third prong of the juvenile attack is the diminutive, but unbeaten, Queen Mary winner Best Terms. In short, the form of that race hasn’t really worked out and, whilst her trainer saddled a very similar type in Lyric Fantasy to take this in 1992, she looks up against it.

The best of the rest are headed by three-year-old filly Wizz Kid. Winner of the Group 2 Prix du Gros-Chene (a race that Nuclear Debate also took on his way to becoming the last French-trained winner of this in 2000) at Chantilly in June, Wizz Kid has only had five career starts and shouldn’t be underestimated, particularly if the ground is on the soft side.

Dandy Nicholls won this race with Ya Malak (dead-heated) in 1997 and Bahamian Pirate in 2004 and relies on Inxile this year. Whilst Inxile has proved better than ever this year, developing a consistency in overseas sprints (winning four listed races in Ireland and Group 3 in France) that is largely unrivalled within the sprinting ranks, his biggest problem is going to be trying to dominate the likes of the aforementioned Masamah also in the field.

Fellow Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby is also well represented with Captain Dunne and Hamish McGonagall, both of whom have come into their own over recent seasons. Captain Dunne showed all of his trademark early speed when beaten a nose by Inxile (Prohibit fourth) in a Group 3 at Longchamp prior to winning the ‘Dash’ (in cheekpieces, Masamah again behind) at Epsom last time, while Hamish McGonagall has finished close up in a Group 2, a Group 3 and a listed race on his three most recent outings. Neither should be taken lightly.

Whilst Hoof It is clearly going to take some stopping if in the same form as last time, there are plenty of fancy prices being offered about some who could well prove up to this level, too. The most appealing of them is Robert Collet’s Wizz Kid, who got up late to beat Prohibit, Inxile and Hamish McGonagall in a race that’s been won by some of top sprinters of recent times. Masamah is not going to have it as easy as when winning at Goodwood last time but is another who makes appeal at double-figure prices.

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