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Lady Iman primed for Nunthorpe challenge

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Thu 21 Aug 2025

Ger Lyons may have taken some persuading to mount a Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes challenge with Lady Iman, but owner Roger O’Callaghan has always had York’s showpiece sprint circled on his calendar.

It was after the talented daughter of Starman had impressed in her first three outings that O’Callaghan first suggested taking on her elders on the Knavesmire and now with the Group One assignment coming into view, connections are determined to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

O’Callaghan said: “I said to Ger Lyons on June 28 in the parade ring before the race she got beat in that the race for Lady Iman is the Nunthorpe.

A first winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for trainer Ger Lyons!
It's a treble on the card too for Ryan Moore as Lady Iman shows her class in the £100,000 Group 3 HKJC @WorldPool Molecomb Stakes pic.twitter.com/6bcMnFvpAX
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) July 30, 2025

“I kind of had it in my head that five furlongs was her bag and then when she went to Goodwood, she proved she’s good at it (in winning the Molecomb Stakes).

“We’re looking forward to it, but we’ve enough going on to keep us busy and most of the time you would think you’ll get beat, don’t you?

“Prepare yourself for the worst and hope for the best is what they say. It’s just nice to be good enough to compete in the race, even if the trainer didn’t really want to and as we’ve said before, we’ll have a go.”

Kingsgate Native was the last two-year-old Nunthorpe winner in 2007 while The Platinum Queen was runner up in 2022, with both horses having been sold by the O’Callaghan family’s Tally-Ho Stud.

O’Callaghan added: “It’s kind of cool to be having a go at the Nunthorpe with Lady Iman and we actually sold Kingsgate Native to Anthony Bromley and John Best at Doncaster, while the last two-year-old to run well in the race was The Platinum Queen and we sold her too, it’s a race we like.”

Asfoora is a seasoned campaigner in Britain now (David Davies/PA)

Australian ace Asfoora finished fourth in the race 12 months ago and is back for another crack after unplaced runs at Royal Ascot and Goodwood so far this summer.

“I think we’re in good shape heading into York and we’ve been happy with her the last few weeks after Goodwood,” said trainer Henry Dwyer.

“I know she didn’t run as well as we had hoped at Goodwood and I think that was more based on the track conditions. We were thinking about scratching there but we knew we needed to run to get her ready for York and she came through it well.

“We thought she was a bit flat after Ascot so had to back off her a little bit heading into Goodwood and then the rain came. She ran and only got beat two and a quarter lengths with things against her but with things in her favour on Friday, I think she will go really well.”

The winner of Asfoora’s last outing in the King George Stakes was John and Sean Quinn’s reopposing Jm Jungle, while second at Goodwood was Jack Davison’s She’s Quality, who has been knocking on the door with regularity this term.

Jm Jungle (centre, green silks) edged out She’s Quality at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA).

“I keep telling myself her turn will come soon and we’ve been working towards this big one and let’s just hope it goes to plan on Friday,” said Davison.

“She’s got tremendous raw speed and it’s going to be fast and furious up the Knavesmire, but we’re really looking forward to it.”

Arizona Blaze, the Commonwealth Cup second who impressed at the Curragh last time, is a third Irish-trained contender for in-form trainer Adrian Murray.

“We couldn’t be happier with the horse he’s in great order and he’s drawn in mid-division so he’ll have options in the race,” he said.

Arizona Blaze (right) scorching to victory at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

“Without doubt he’s ready and he’s done everything well for us up to now. He will have to step up again you would think, but there’s no time like the present. He’s been a star for us and has won well on quick ground in places like the Breeders’ Cup so it’s all systems go.”

Second to Arizona Blaze in the Sapphire Stakes was Mgheera, who excelled earlier in the season and is one of two in the mix for Ed Walker alongside last year’s Lowther Stakes scorer Celandine.

“It looks the perfect set-up for Mgheera and I think she has slightly gone under the radar having only run the once at the Curragh since winning the Temple Stakes,” said Walker. “She will love the fast ground and has been training very well.

“It will be very interesting coming back to five furlongs with Celandine, but I’m looking forward to trying it and I think she will cope with it.”

Group Three glory for Sayidah Dariyan @yorkracecourse 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZWfdMdQ4GU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2025

Course winner Sayidah Dariyan represents Richard Hughes in a race he famously claimed with Oasis Dream and Sole Power as a jockey.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah, said: “I’m very keen on her and I love this filly. For me, I think she could end up the best sprinting filly in the country.

“She got the track experience at York last time and we know that will suit and Ryan Moore is on board so she ticks a good few boxes.”