Dods eyeing up more York glory with unbeaten Arapaho Gold

Michael Dods has enjoyed some of the biggest days of his training career at York – and he would dearly love to add the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes to his CV on Friday with the unbeaten Arapaho Gold.

It is 10 years since the Darlington-based trainer made the relatively short journey down the A1 to saddle Mecca’s Angel to successfully defend her Nunthorpe title, while he also enjoyed many a fruitful afternoon on the Knavesmire with the popular Dakota Gold.

It seems fitting that just a week after the latter was retired, Arapaho Gold added to a couple of low-key wins at Thirsk by carrying the colours of the veteran sprinter’s part-owner Doug Graham to a Listed success in Newbury’s Rose Bowl, earning him a shot at this prestigious Group Two prize.

Dods said: “We’ve been very happy with him since Newbury. It’s a tough looking race, but he’s going there in good form.

“It was a good run at Newbury, Connor sat on him on Wednesday morning and was pleased with him, but he has got to step up and improve again.

“We’re looking forward to it and I’m sure he’ll run well wherever he finishes.”

The biggest threat to Arapaho Gold appears to be Adaay Of Scarlett, who would certainly not be winning out of turn having filled the runner-up spot in the Coventry, the July Stakes and the Richmond Stakes already this summer.

Trainer Hugo Palmer, who fits his juvenile with cheekpieces for the first time, said: “Let’s hope this is his day.

“Most Mehmas horses handle a bit of ease in the ground and his action suggests he will, but obviously it’s an unknown.

“I think he’s still improving physically – every time I look at him I think he looks stronger.

“I just felt he pulled up in front at Goodwood last time so after discussing it with Oisin (Murphy) we’ve decided to put the cheekpieces on.”

The George Scott-trained Mrair made headlines when fetching £880,000 at the Goffs breeze-up sale in the spring. He was beaten at odds-on on his Newmarket debut, but opened his account at Lingfield next time and he has been kept fresh since finishing a close-up eighth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

“He hasn’t done a huge amount wrong. He ran well at Ascot when the door closed a couple of times – he was a little bit short of room and might have finished half a length closer otherwise,” said Scott.

“I’ve needed every day of preparation to get him to the Gimcrack because I gave him a break after Ascot and it has taken me a little bit longer than I thought to get him fit.

“He is ready to go, York should suit him, and we have seen plenty from him already to suggest he is not out of place in a race like this.”

Other contenders include Aidan O’Brien’s Curragh runner-up Marco Polo and Ed Walker’s Never Enough, who broke his duck in a valuable Ascot maiden late last month.

Walker said: “He was very impressive at Ascot on his second start. He made a very pleasing debut when finishing second at Windsor, but he really stepped forward and I think there’s plenty more to come from him – he’s a very exciting horse.”