Arapaho Gold stays unbeaten in Gimcrack
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 21 Aug 2026
Arapaho Gold stretched his unbeaten record to four with victory in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.
The Michael Dods-trained gelding won a couple of low-key races at Thirsk either side of being withdrawn after playing up in the stalls at Beverley, since when he had successfully graduated to Listed company in the Rose Bowl at Newbury.
He faced another step up in class for this prestigious Group Two contest, but proved more than up to the task in the hands of Connor Beasley, briefly coming under pressure before getting himself organised and finishing strongly to repel Final Objective by three-quarters of a length at 2-1.
Darlington-based Dods has enjoyed some of the best days of his career at York, having saddled Mecca’s Angel to win her second Nunthorpe on this day 10 years ago, while he also sent out the popular sprinter Dakota Gold to win on the Knavesmire six times.
“Once he was out and running I was happy. At halfway he was looking for a bit of room, but once the room came he really quickened up,” said Dods.
“Connor just said the last 100 yards he gave him some feel the way he quickened away from them. He’s a good horse, this was a big step up and he’s taken everything in his stride. When we’ve wanted him to step up he has and he has stepped up again there. He’s just some horse isn’t he?”
On future plans, Dods added: “He’ll go to the Mill Reef (at Newbury) now and that will probably be it for the season and we’ll see where we go next year.
“He’s got the speed for six furlongs as you’ve just seen and I don’t think you’ll see any problems getting seven. He quickens up and he gallops. It’s an interesting problem (planning), but we’ll deal with it. He’s an exciting horse to have and it’s brilliant that we’ve got him in the yard.
“We’ve had a lot of luck at York, but this is right up there with the two Mecca’s Angel wins and winning that is unbelievable.”
Watch what Michael Dods had to say to Lydia Hislop after saddling Arapaho Gold to Gimcrack glory.
Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, who own the runner-up Final Objective, said: “It was a massive run, it’s one where you are delighted because the horse has run a huge race.
“A furlong out I thought he was coming to win, he hasn’t been straightforward and Hamad (Al Jehani) has done a great job training this horse and that is a career best, so we’ll keep him busy.
“He wandered about when he won at Thirsk last week and he has done again, so I think we’ll pop a pair of cheekpieces on.
“There’s a race in France, the Prix Eclipse, that we could look at, but we’ll all have a sit down and see what might be best for him.”
Adrian Keatley said of the third home, Hell Of A Spin: “He’s a hardy little horse who tries his heart out and he’s running consistently well in these good races.
“You’d like to think there’s a nice one in him one of these days, I don’t think the trip or ground were a concern for him, it was just the winner quickened away.
“He’s been placed in a Molecomb and Gimcrack now. There could be a race in France towards the back-end for him – we’ll keep trying.”
Jockey Connor Beasley gave his winning reaction on Racing TV.
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