Borderlescott rallied under new jockey Neil Callan to overtake pacesetter Benbaun and win the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Eng-I) by a neck Aug. 21during the Ebor-at-York meeting.
Despite winning the Nunthorpe a year ago when it was rescheduled and run at Newmarket, Borderlescott was sent off at 9-1 odds, winning the five-furlong turf sprint in time of :57.50 over ground labeled "good-to-firm." Nembaun, a 25-1 late entrant in the race, finished second, followed Radiohead, a 2-year-old running against more seasoned horses who rallied strong in the 16-horse field after getting off to a slow start.
Kingsgate Native, who came into the race off a victory in the July 30 King George (Eng-III) at York, finished sixth as the 5-2 favorite.
The win was the 12th in 43 career starts for Borderlsescott, who has placed second or third in 19 additional races. The 7-year-old gelding trained by Robin Bastiman for owners James Edgar and William Donaldson. A son of Compton Place, Borderlsescott was bred in Great Britain by James Clark.
"He comes right at this time of year and I keep telling everybody that," said Bastiman, whose training yard is about eight miles from the racecourse. "He likes that fast pace and got a nice lead today. It's great to have a horse like him and I just wish I had a few more."
Callan, the stable jockey for Benbaun who had already committed to the winner before the runner-up was added to the field, told reporters: "It's the most amazing feeling. I'm having a good year and I've had five group I winners now and these are amazing feelings.
"I had a bad fall yesterday and I was a bit worried I wouldn't make it today, but I made the right decision in taking off my last two rides so I was 100%."