Two-year-old to face elders in Coolmore City of Troy Nunthorpe
Richard Hannon is preparing to step his two-year-old filly Pershaada up to Group 1 company as she is supplemented for next week’s Coolmore City of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The Middleham Park Racing-owned juvenile arrives at the Knavesmire on the back of an eye-catching success at Goodwood and an encouraging Royal Ascot run.
Progressive form through the summer
Pershaada was fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before reversing the form with older rivals when taking the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood a fortnight later. That progression through two competitive juvenile events has convinced her trainer that she merits a crack at the five-furlong Group 1 on fast ground.
Hannon has described the filly as a straightforward horse to train and suggested she has maintained her condition since Goodwood. Connections will rely on the experienced Silvestre de Sousa to take the ride at York.
Weight allowance and race dynamics
As a two-year-old filly Pershaada benefits from age and sex allowances in the Nunthorpe and will carry 8st on the Knavesmire. That places her at a significant weight advantage over her older rivals, a factor Hannon believes could play into her favour: historically juvenile sprinters have been competitive in the race when allowed that type of concession.
With the sprint division unusually open this season, Hannon has voiced the view that Pershaada’s price in early market lists looks generous. Reports suggested she was around 12-1 after being declared at the second entry stage for York’s big sprint.
Opposition and market context
The market for the Nunthorpe currently features Wesley Ward’s American raider Bacio, who arrives at York on the back of a dominant Royal Ascot performance and was installed as the ante-post favourite. Bacio’s Ascot victory has marked her out as the leading contender in market terms, with Pershaada occupying a much longer position despite her rapid improvement.
Connections of Pershaada will hope the combination of juvenile weight relief and the filly’s evident speed will allow her to defy older, more experienced sprinters. If she reproduces her Goodwood form and handles the steps up in class and the unique tempo of the Nunthorpe, she could become the first juvenile filly to complete the Nurthorpe-style success for the Hannon stable since the early 1990s.
What to expect at York
- Pershaada brings upward-trending form following runs at Royal Ascot and Goodwood.
- She carries a substantial weight advantage as a two-year-old filly, set to ride with Silvestre de Sousa.
- Bacio is the principal market rival following a commanding Ascot performance.
- Connections have judged the division open and are optimistic about the filly’s prospects at Group 1 level.
With entries now confirmed, attention will turn to final declarations and track conditions at York. The Nunthorpe traditionally throws up surprises and the prospect of a juvenile filly running into the finish adds an intriguing subplot to what is already one of the most anticipated sprint contests of the summer festival calendar.
