Dubai: Battaash and Blue Point, two extremely exciting sprinters with a Dubai connection, resume their budding rivalry when they clash in the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

The former went down to Blue Point when they last met in the King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in June, but subsequently his sprinting prowess in no uncertain fashion when annihilating a classy field to land the King Edward Stakes (G2) at Goodwood earlier this month.

Going by that performance Battaash, who is trained by Charlie Hills for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, would appear to have the slight edge on Charlie Appleby’s Blue Point in tomorrow’s feature which is worth £350,000 (Dh1,658,970).

Also in the fray for the Nunthorpe, the only Group 1 race in Britain open to two-year-old geldings one of few races where juveniles can compete against their elders, is Mabs Cross, who was a noteworthy third in the King’s Stand Stakes and the ageless Caspian Prince,

Assessing Blue Point’s chances Appleby told Racing UK: “Battaash is going to be up there on the pace, and there will be plenty of pace on.

“In an ideal world we will be slotting in behind and seeing how the race unfolds from there on.

“He is a horse that needs to be handled carefully but he is growing up now and is getting better with every run,” added the in-form Godolphin handler.

“He has got quicker and stronger, like all these sprinters do. He is now the ultimate professional. He looks the part. He trains right and back to five you will see him running the race the right way around.

“I’m pleased with the draw. We’re in stall 16 and Battaash is in 14, so it’s not like we’re on the opposite side to him, which is good,” Appleby continued.

“He has a great record at Ascot as he likes to meet that rising ground. Going to York is not a worry as he won the Gimcrack there. I think the flat five there will be right up his street.

“We’ve all got Battaash to beat over this trip, on this track. It’s a good race, but we’re looking forward to it and hoping for a good run.”

Friday’s card also features the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes a Group 2 contest open to two-year-old colts and geldings.

The owner of the winning horse is customarily invited to give a speech at the annual end-of-season Gimcrack Dinner, which is held at the racecourse in December.