Nations Pride & El Cordobes duel for G1 Sword Dancer glory

Nations Pride returns to North America in search of more G1 honours in the Sword Dancer Stakes, with improving four-year-old El Cordobes also lining up in the 12-furlong Saratoga highlight on Saturday, 9 August.

Teofilo entire Nations Pride has posted four victories at G1 level, including successful visits to the United States in the 2022 Saratoga Derby and 2024 Arlington Million in addition to capturing the Canadian International in 2023.

Fifth to Rebel’s Romance on his most recent start over a mile and a half in the 2022 G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Nations Pride steps back up in distance on the back of three contrasting efforts earlier in the year.

The Charlie Appleby-trained six-year-old failed to land a blow in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January but bounced back to form with a comfortable victory in the G2 Singspiel Stakes at Meydan. He has his first appearance since coming home 10th in a strong edition of the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup Night.

Stablemate El Cordobes also ran well at Meydan over the winter, filling the runner-up spot on both his starts, before easily taking a handicap at Newmarket in May.

The son of Frankel has continued to run well in the UK over the summer and makes his US debut on the back of a career-best win in the G2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, when he stayed on strongly for a two-length verdict.

Charlie Appleby said: “Nations Pride hasn’t run over a mile and a half for a while, although he won the Jockey Club Derby over the distance as a three-year-old before running well behind Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“We have campaigned him over shorter trips over the past couple of seasons, but I am hoping that stepping up in trip can get him back on track. He is a multiple G1 winner and brings plenty of experience of racing in North America to the table. If he runs up to his best form, he will certainly be a big player.

“El Cordobes put up a couple of decent efforts at Meydan earlier in the year and has progressed nicely in the UK. He gets a mile and a half well and will enjoy the quick ground at Saratoga. Running here will hopefully give us a steer as to the rest of his season and he looks an interesting contender.”