Nunthorpe Stakes: James Tate gladly overlooks Royal Aclaim’s inexperience ahead of York Group One test | Racing news
Coach James Tate was happy to overlook Royal Aclaim’s inexperience as they prepared to bid for Group One glory at the Nunthorpe Stakes in York.
Tate’s three-year-old was the 6/4 favorite for Friday’s performance after impressing on the same course and gap in the City Stocks listed last month.
That made it three undefeated after returning from more than a year off to win at Bath in June.
With only three starts to her name, Royal Aclaim will be the ultimate experience horse in the field, but Tate is sure she has earned a spot at the highest level.
Tate told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s natural for people to talk about horses and we as coaches spend our lives thinking about whether they want to run fast or soft ground, light training or more training, but everything about how to get her to perform is easy.She hasn’t played by the rules.
“She had very little training going to Bath and York, she was just naturally faster than the other horses.
“We love this and no one else really knows much about her. People were impressed with the way she won at York because she basically hit the front two shirts out, pricking her ears. and return home in his own time without pressure.”
“She’s inexperienced, which increases her potential, but all I can tell you is, to be honest, she’s not interested in other horses.
“Let’s face it, we won’t be 6/4 if the Nature Strip is in the race. He’s been incredibly impressive in Ascot and he’s stayed and running in Nunthorpe this is going to be tougher.
“I respect all the horses in the race and think the Platinum Queen has been very impressed at Goodwood.
“You’ve got Group One winners in there and other Group winners from this year. This isn’t a gimme game.”
Raasel has ‘earned his place’ in the field of Nunthorpe
Raasel will continue his rise to the top by running in his first Group One run in York on Friday.
A revelation since he joined Mick Appleby, from last September his mark has increased from 73 to 109.
Winning Group Three at Sandown in his penultimate match, the five-year-old was nearly rejected by Khaadem in Group Two of King George at Goodwood.
Chris Dixon, owner of Raasel in The Horse Watchers, said: “I suppose we thought it was a missed opportunity and whenever a horse is beaten you ask why.
“Perhaps if the ground hadn’t been watered because he was a little bit off his feet, things like that, but at the end of the day it was probably the best career in the best race he’s been in and he He was not far defeated.
“I don’t want to make excuses, he was just beaten that day by a better horse in that condition – Khaadem didn’t hit us in such a way that we didn’t want another crack in him.
“It fell our way in Sandown but it didn’t fall our way in Goodwood, another day it could happen.
“It again shows that there is very little between the top handicap athletes and the Group level sprinters. The strong mobility disabled athletes seem to be able to do the jump, I think that’s the thing. That’s rare for a sprinter under a lot of pressure.
“We’ll find out soon if there’s a big bridge between the Group One sprinters and the rest, he’s definitely earned his place at that level.”