Border seals Nunthorpe double
The Wetherby trainer was rewarded for 40 years hard graft last summer when Borderlescott provided his first success at the top level – but unfortunately for him, the race took place 160 miles south at Newmarket.
The weather which caused last year’s abandonment at York favoured Bastiman this time though, and provided the rattling quick ground which suits his seven-year-old so well.
The 9-1 chance also got the lightning-fast pace which he craves and came with his challenge entering the final furlong under Neil Callan to edge ahead of front-running Benbaun and deny his fellow Yorkshire rival by a neck. Radiohead, the sole juvenile in the 16-strong field, excelled himself by finishing strongly to be a length and a quarter down in third.
For 59-year-old Bastiman, the Nunthorpe was just his second Group One win, although he has failed to live up to his promise of last year as yet. Bastiman had said he would hand over the training operation to his daughter Rebecca when he struck at Group One level, but that looks likely to happen in the new year.
He said: “This is my home ground and where I want to win races. I only train eight miles from here and this is the Ascot of the north. Racing has such a following in Yorkshire and there is even a girl who sends him Polos every month.
“He is a hard horse to get fit and gets better with every run of the season. He only comes right at this time of year, and the fast pace and fast ground suited him.”
