Nunthorpe next up for Acapulco Acapulco is set to return to York for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes following her defeat in the five-furlong dash last summer. American trainer Wesley Ward reports the three-year-old filly to be heading to the Knavesmire on August 19 in a bid to atone for finishing second to Mecca's Angel after leading until the last 50 yards. Acapulco won last year's Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot but was taken out of the King's Stand Stakes there last week because of the rain-softened ground. "We are excited about Acapulco going. Unfortunately the ground was against her at Ascot. We are crossing our fingers that hopefully we get some sunshine at York," said Ward. "She ran a beautiful race on the going there last year. She showed an affinity for it and I think she's a bigger, stronger, faster filly this year and will pack a lot more weight than she did last year. She's a big, strong filly and I think she can handle it." Ward has also given an entry to Lady Aurelia, but this year's impressive Queen Mary winner is more likely to head to France for the Prix Morny. "We are just keeping the options open, but she's 90 per cent going to the Morny in France. Everything's fine with her after Ascot," he said. "She took to the going which is always a question with every two-year-old I've raced. She's a tremendous filly and should have a big future." Three other Royal Ascot two-year-old winners - John Gosden's Ardad (Windsor Castle), the Aidan O'Brien-trained Caravaggio (Coventry Stakes) and Prince Of Lir (Norfolk) - are among the 44 Nunthorpe contenders. Mecca's Angel is likely to try to retain her crown, while Edward Lynam's Sole Power, successful in 2010 and 2014, could try to claim the prize for a third time at the age of nine. A clash of the generations is on the cards in the Juddmonte International on August 17. Coronation Cup hero Postponed and Prince of Wales's winner My Dream Boat are among the older horses in the 40-strong entry, as well as last year's winner Arabian Queen. Aidan O'Brien can choose from a host of top-class three-year-olds, headed by Derby runner-up US Army Ranger, Derby third Idaho, Dante second Deauville, French 2000 Guineas winner The Gurkha, Ribblesdale scorer Even Song and Minding, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks. The Ballydoyle trainer also has some nice older horses in there too such as Wolferton winner Sir Isaac Newton, Highland Reel and Found. Found, Even Song and Minding are among O'Brien's entries in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on August 18 in which the Jim Bolger-trained Pleascach could try to repeat her victory of 2015 in this mile-and-a-half Group One.
