3 minute read
Ayr Gold Cup now off the agenda
Michael Dods was quick to rule out the Ayr Gold Cup for Dakota Gold following his maiden Listed-race victory at in the LNER Supporting CALM Garrowby Stakes at York.
The in-form sprinter was winning his fourth successive race, having claimed two valuable races at York already together with the prestigious Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.
As he has been all season, Connor Beasley was in the saddle and despite a little bump on leaving the stalls he was soon at the head of affairs in the six-furlong feature.
Showing the pace which has seen him win over five furlongs in the past, Dakota Gold soon had most of his rivals in trouble and while the admirable Danzeno tried to get on terms, Dakota Gold pulled out even more to win by a length and three-quarters at 11-8.
Dods said: "He won't go to Ayr. The reason we came here was because of the penalty structure.
"After his last win it took him up to 9st 12lb and that was already 3lb above his mark of 109, so he'd be running off 112.
"He's not a big horse, so we thought we'd see how he coped in a Listed race. Obviously he's won so he'll have another 3lb which would take him up to 10st 1lb. He definitely won't run, he hasn't been taken out yet but he won't go to Ayr.
"There's a Group Three at Newbury on Ayr Gold Cup day we've won before with Mecca's Angel and there's a Listed race at Ascot he could go for in October. I'd guess he could go to Ascot, but we'll see."
He added: "It was a good performance, but Connor did say that in that sort of company he might be better off back over five on soft ground.
"I thought that was another improved performance – when they joined him he found more again and won going away.
"When they try to take him on they burn themselves out and finish out the back."
With proven Group One performer Mabs Cross nearing the end of her career, Dods appears to have found a replacement.
He said: "He's quickly improving and is an exciting horse – it's not very often they come along, but it's nice when they do."
