Trainer Michael Dods believes he has a two-year-old gelding capable of taking on the big stables at York on Friday. Arapaho Gold, who is unbeaten in three runs, has been established as the ante-post favourite for the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes.
Dods' Career and New Prospect
In a 36-year career, the Darlington-based trainer has made his name with top-level sprinters including Mecca’s Angel, Mabs Cross and Commanche Falls. Mecca’s Angel won the Nunthorpe Stakes twice, while Mabs Cross took the Prix de l’Abbaye. Commanche Falls is the only horse this century to win back-to-back Stewards’ Cups.
Now, Dods has a new prospect in Arapaho Gold, a two-year-old gelding. “It’s hard to say what we have but he’s an exciting two-year-old who I could see improving over another furlong,” Dods said. “But we like having runners at York and the Gimcrack was the obvious race to send him to. There’s some improving horses in there and it’s not going to be an easy race by any means.”
Arapaho Gold's Path to York
Arapaho Gold, bought for €42,000 as a yearling, won twice at Thirsk before stepping up in class to land the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury. He won the race the hard way, having been broadsided after a furlong, holding off Godolphin challenger Nabati by a neck.
“He was drawn wide, he took a bump early on that set him alight and then he grounded it out and showed a good attitude,” Dods said. “We sort of expected him to win first time out and then we expected him to win at Beverley and then go to Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle. It was probably a blessing that he misbehaved in the stalls at Beverley and was withdrawn. So he didn’t go to Royal Ascot. It might have fried his brains if he’d run there and if he’d been drawn on the wrong side at Ascot it would have been a waste of time. Instead he did the job well at Newbury.”
Family and Owner Involvement
Arapaho Gold runs in the same colours as Commanche Falls, whose part-owner, 82-year-old Doug Graham, has been a long-time supporter of the Dods stable. “Doug’s been involved in Commanche Falls and Dakota Gold so has had a lot of success and it’s nice to get him another good one at his age,” Dods said. “My wife Carole co-owns Arapaho Gold and works with me and our daughter Chloe is my assistant so it’s nice for some good ones to be coming through for her. To win a race like the Gimcrack would be marvellous for everyone involved, Conor Beasley, the staff, the owners and the yard and to win it at York, where we’ve had such a lot of success would be the icing on the cake.”
