2026 Nunthorpe Stakes Result and Replay - Bacio blitzes rivals to hand Ward a famous win

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Fri 21 Aug 2026 16:16

Jon Vine 1 hour ago

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Full result of the 2026 Nunthorpe Stakes
Bacio won the Group One feature at York on Friday
Watch a replay of the Nunthorpe Stakes finish here on our website

Juan J. Hernandez riding Bacio (white cap) win The Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York. (Getty)

18 excellent sprinters entered the stalls at York ahead of the 2026 Nunthorpe Stakes this afternoon.

All eyes were on the defending champion Asfoora, who was heading off into retirement after Friday's feature. Henry Dwyer's mare was very weak in the betting on the day, and it was Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot winner Bacio who entered the stalls as the clear favourite.

Mission Central got the better of Rayevka to land the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, and both took their chance at York. 2025 King Charles winner American Affair was fancied too, having returned to winning form at Glorious Goodwood.

Richard Hannon's juvenile Pershaada was looking to make the most of both age and sex allowances. Karl Burke's speedy five-year-old Night Raider was backed into a single-figure price, with each-way punters latching onto Ralph Beckett's former Breeders' Cup winner Starlust.

Rumstar, Time For Sandals and Jm Jungle went into the Nunthorpe on the back of some solid recent results. Redorange stepped up to Group One company after winning the City Walls Stakes here at York. William Buick rode Group Two winner Cover Up for the Crisfords, with Tom Marquand jumping into the saddle of course winner Partisan Hero for David Loughnane.

Heavenly Heather provided Northern trainer Tracy Waggott with her first Nunthorpe runner. Ain't Nobody was the rank outsider of the field when he finished second to Asfoora 12 months ago. The field was then completed by two fillies, with both Fitzella and Azure Angel going off at triple-figure prices.

2026 Nunthorpe Stakes Result

Position	Name	SP
1st	Bacio	3/1f
2nd	Starlust	25/1
3rd	Rumstar	22/1
4th	Time For Sandals	25/1
5th	Rayevka	4/1

Bacio was ponied down to the start, and reared soon after entering the stalls. When the gates burst open, Bacio was still the first to show, and Juan Hernandez allowed the leader to stride on.

American Affair missed the break slightly, but soon moved up into second place alongside Night Raider. Partisan Hero and Jm Jungle broke well from their wide draws, but soon found themselves detached from the main group.

Bacio led by a length entering the final three furlongs. That lead then grew to four lengths at the two-pole, and soon all the other jockeys were hard at work. Hernandez drew his whip with a furlong to travel, but there was no need, as Bacio was home and hosed a long way from home. Wesley Ward punched the air as he celebrated a first victory in the Nunthorpe.

Ward's US raider ran out a convincing winner in the end. Starlust kept on well to finish second, just ahead of Rumstar, who continued his consistent season with a placed effort in Group One company.

Time For Sandals was the hard-luck story in the race. Harry Eustace's filly found trouble throughout the entire contest, but still managed to finish fourth ahead of the French raider Rayevka.

Asfoora bowed out with a fairly tame performance. Mission Central never featured. American Affair and Night Raider faded tamely out of contention. But this race was all about Bacio, who did what Lady Aurelia and Acapulco couldn't do, and that's win this famous sprint for Wesley Ward.