Dakota Gold ruled out of Ayr Gold Cup after impressive York victory

Dakota Gold readily landed the 6f Listed Garrowby Stakes at York under Connor Beasley to extend his winning sequence to four, but the thriving sprinter will not bid to make it five on the trot in the Ayr Gold Cup this month.

Dakota Gold had been the 7-1 favourite for the Ayr Gold Cup but trainer Michael Dods said the five-year-old would miss the £200,000 handicap after victory at York meant he would carry an 8lb penalty.

Dods said: "He won't run in the Ayr Gold Cup as he has another penalty. Connor said he wouldn't be frightened to go back to five furlongs in this company with a bit of soft ground – he could just let him roll instead of having to restrain him.

"There is a Group 3 at Newbury on Ayr Gold Cup day and that's a possibility."

Dakota Gold and connections celebrate victory at YorkCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Dakota Gold, arriving on the back of valuable victories in the Great St Wilfrid and a handicap at the Ebor meeting, once again showed blistering early pace to put his rivals under pressure.

Danzeno emerged as the main danger but Dakota Gold found plenty under pressure to register a decisive success, passing the post a length and three quarters clear.

Reflecting on the 11-8 favourite's performance, Dods added: "I would say that is another career-best. Connor said he was in trouble when they were coming to him but once he sensed the horses were there he picked up and he's gone away at the end."

In Dakota Gold's absence, unexposed three-year-old Victory Day is likely to assume favouritism. The William Haggas-trained sprinter has won two of his three starts this year and was an impressive winner at the Shergar Cup meeting last month. He is a best price of 10-1.

The weights will be headed by Mr Lupton and Raucous.

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