Dakota Gold

Dakota Gold only finished fifth in the City Walls Stakes at York on Saturday, but it was a fine performance by Michael Dods’ horse on his seasonal debut. He showed lots of early pace, and he travelled up well on the near side to move to within about a length or a length and a half of the winner Winter Power at the two-furlong marker. He couldn’t match the filly’s speed, and he was starting to tire when he was sandwiched a little between Moss Gill and Urban Beat inside the final furlong. He was then just caught by Snazzy Jazzy for fourth place.

Dakota Gold was weak in the market before Saturday’s race, and he invariably comes on for his seasonal debut. His record on his seasonal debut since he started racing reads 317555. His record on his second run of the season, by contrast, reads 12316. He was in tremendous form at the end of last season, he won his last three races, two listed races and the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at York in October. He is a horse who comes into his own late in the season, in September and October, when the autumn ground comes, and he is worth keeping in mind for now.
York, 10^th July 2021