Arapaho Gold on course for Gimcrack challenge

Michael Dods’ exciting colt Arapaho Gold will put his unbeaten record on the line in the Gimcrack Stakes during the Ebor Festival at York.

The Bayside Boy juvenile opened his account over five furlongs at Thirsk in May before becoming unruly in the stalls and withdrawn from Beverley’s Two Year Old Trophy.

He put those issues behind him when stepping up in trip on his return to the North Yorkshire track and progressed once more at Newbury, fighting hard to hold off Godolphin’s 850,000 guineas purchase Nabati by a neck and claim the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes.

That form has been boosted by third home Agamemnon finishing a good second in Group Three company in France, and Darlington-based Dods is relishing Arapaho Gold’s opportunity to test himself at Group Two level on August 21.

“The worst so far was at Beverley when he boiled over a bit and had to be withdrawn at the start, but it sent us in a different direction with him and it wasn’t all doom,” the Denton Hall Stables handler said.

“He’s come out of the race well, I’m happy with him. At the moment, the plan would be, unless things change, the Gimcrack.

“With it being early-closing entries you put them in and then decide what to do. After we go to York we will decide after that and it’s having options covered.

“The only two options he has are the Mill Reef and a race called the Gold Trophy at Redcar, but I couldn’t really see him going for that.

“We will see what happens at York and then make a decision whether he will go to the Mill Reef or elsewhere or doesn’t run again this season.”

He added: “Things can change, but I don’t think he’s particularly a sprinter and I think he will easily stay seven furlongs without a problem. He’s a big, long-striding horse and I think it’s just his ability that’s got him away with six furlongs really.

“The sire has done exceptionally well and the only issues he’s had are at the stalls and thanks to Craig Witheford, who now goes to the start with him and loads him – he’s worked with him and hopefully we are over that.”