Al Nayyir found redemption at York and captured the Lonsdale Cup
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After falling just short in the last two editions, the veteran son of Dubawi rallied from off the pace to defeat Illinois by a length in the G2. Tom Clover is already contemplating a return trip to Dubai
KNAVESMIRE, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Third time was the charm for Al Nayyir in the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup (G2), a race that seemed almost stubbornly determined to deny him. Second by a mere head behind Vauban (Galiway) two seasons ago and third to Trawlerman (Golden Horn) twelve months back, Tom Clover's veteran gelding finally found the reward he had chased for so long this Friday.
At 8 years old, the son of Dubawi demonstrated once again that his competitive drive remains fully intact and that York suits him to perfection. Sent off at 9-1, he closed from last with a sustained rally to defeat Illinois (Galileo) by a length, while Mount Atlas (Masar) rounded out the trifecta and 7-4 favorite Caballo De Mar (Phoenix of Spain) faded to fourth after running out of stamina.
Things looked far from straightforward for Al Nayyir as the field reached the crucial stages of the long Knavesmire straight. William Buick was busy aboard his mount early, still trailing the field, but the gelding gradually began to respond. The veteran stayer relentlessly ate up ground and, once he hit his stride, surged past to secure one of the highlight victories of his career.
He was coming off a seventh-place finish in the Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot, dropping down both in distance and class today. Prior to that, he had finished second in the Yorkshire Cup (G2), also at York, capping off a campaign marked by exceptional consistency.
"He loves conventional tracks and turning left. For whatever reason, he's been in really good form all year," Tom Clover explained.
The conditioner also emphasized how much the horse benefited from spending last winter in the Middle East: "He loved being in Dubai and has managed to hold his form all season long. He's been so consistent. He was placed twice in G2 company, won a G3, and has now won a G2. He simply loves to race."
Tom Clover even shared a lighthearted remark about his charge's longevity: "I'm delighted for him. At 8 years old, he seems to be a son of Dubawi who is still getting better!"
The performance was likely Al Nayyir's final outing in Europe for 2026. The main objective is a return trip to Dubai, where he has already shown himself to be exceptionally comfortable.
"York and Meydan are his two favorite tracks. He loves long straights and, thankfully, seems to handle any type of ground. He's the yard favorite; his box is right near our bedroom, and he's an unbelievable horse to ride," Tom Cloveradded.
A trip to France remains a possibility prior to shipping out, though the trainer sounded hesitant: "I don't think there's another race here for him this year because he prefers turning left. I imagine we'll head back to Dubai now. There's a chance of France, but I doubt it."
The flip side of the Lonsdale Cup belonged once again to Caballo De Mar. A G1 winner and the race favorite, he registered a second consecutive disappointing effort after virtually easing out of contention in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Billy Jackson-Stops, racing manager for Victorious Racing, acknowledged that a reassessment of future plans is required. "He came here with George believing he was in peak condition, but perhaps there were still some lingering effects from Ascot. We'll press the reset button and evaluate everything."
The Prix du Cadran (G1) stands as the sole option before wrapping up his European campaign, though sending him straight to rest ahead of Dubai remains under consideration.
While questions linger surrounding Caballo De Mar, Al Nayyir departed York with absolute clarity: after two near-misses, the Lonsdale Cup is finally his.
