El Cordobes flashes home to take G1 Sword Dancer Stakes

El Cordobes enjoyed a perfect US debut as he unleashed a late surge to capture the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, 9 August.

The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old headed across the Atlantic for his first top-level appearance on the back of several strong efforts in the UK, including winning the G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.

Vote No was pushed along into an early lead in the 12-furlong contest, with El Cordobes settling on the inner rail in third behind stablemate Nations Pride, until Far Bridge rushed up to go second after the first three furlongs.

El Cordobes continued to save ground on the inside, with Padiddle and Rebel Red shuffling the Godolphin runner back to a close sixth halfway down the back.

Nations Pride took up the running turning in and soon opened up daylight over the field, with William Buick kicking into a three-length lead approaching the final furlong.

Having patiently waited for a gap to present itself turning in, Flavien Prat found a seam on El Cordobes at the top of the straight and the son of Frankel bravely quickened between horses.

Rebel Red and El Cordobes swept by Nations Pride just inside the final half-furlong, with El Cordobes asserting in the final strides for a half-length verdict. Nations Pride kept on at the same pace to finish a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Charlie Appleby said: “We were delighted with El Cordobes. He has booked his place in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and we might look at the Canadian International beforehand, depending on how Rebel’s Romance gets on in Germany. Nations Pride put up a solid effort and I think we might have a look at dropping him back to a mile and a quarter.”