Cucaracha Chasing York Repeat

La Cucaracha is 4-1 with the sponsors to repeat her victory of 12 months ago in the VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

She earned another crack at the Group One contest on August 24 with a brilliant victory in the Audi Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The Barry Hills-trained mare had been without a success since last year's Nunthorpe and ran slightly below par in the July Cup on the most recent of her two starts this season.

But looking extremely well beforehand she showed all her old sparkle in the Group Three contest, which is registered as the King George Stakes.

The 7-2 favourite was dropped in by the trainer's son, Michael, off a furious pace set by Desert Lord in the five-furlong dash.

For a moment it looked as though she would not get a run but the gap appeared just in time. Hills junior dashed her through the opening well inside the final furlong to catch Desert Lord and record a cosy three-quarters-of-a-length verdict.

Pivotal Flame ran his usual honest race from stall 15 to grab third a further length away.

The three principals could all renew rivalry in the Nunthorpe, with VC Bet going 14-1 and 16-1 about the respective chances of Desert Lord and Pivotal Flame.

'She's got bags of ability but you've got to give her a chance in a race,' Hills senior said.

'She'll go for the Nunthorpe again and the Hong Kong race is an appealing end to the year. She'll go for all those sprints.'

And explaining her apparent lack of form, he added: 'She got a low-grade viral problem early on and it was a question of whether we could get her to Royal Ascot or not and she just came in time.

'Then she was drawn on the far side, which didn't suit her, but she only got beaten two lengths.

'I think that race put her back again and when she went to the July Cup I wasn't particularly happy with her.

'But I felt this last 10 days she had really come to herself and she gave me the impression she was ready for it.'

The successful jockey added: 'They went very quick but I've got to be patient on my filly and not get there too soon. I need to be ready and waiting for when the gap appears.

'Neil Callan was getting away on Desert Lord so I needed to get through when the opening came and I managed to get through.'

Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan said of the runner-up: 'I am very proud of him, especially when you consider he pulled a shoe off in the race.

'We will now consider the Nunthorpe, although he has some engagements in Ireland as well.'

Pivotal Flame's trainer, Ed McMahon, blamed the draw for the colt's defeat.

He added: 'They've gone on the stand rails and he's had to go with them, and yet he doesn't like to be in front too long.

'He's had to commit him and he's run a cracking race considering the draw.

'I'll go for the Nunthorpe with him now and give him a crack at a Group One.

'Dandy Man is favourite (9-4) and we were only just touched off by him at Newmarket, so he's in the mix.'

(C) PA Sport