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Nashwa in search of back-to-back Nassau wins

3 minute read

Nashwa will have to face French filly Blue Rose Cen in her search for back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes.

NASHWA winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 1) (British Champions Series)
NASHWA winning the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 1) (British Champions Series) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The 2022 Prix de Diane winner was disappointing on her first two runs of the season, finishing well-beaten in the Group 2 Prix Corrida before suffering a surprise defeat behind Al Husn in the Group 3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes.

Nashwa returned to best form when taking the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July Course by five lengths, which was her first attempt over a mile.

"Nashwa has taken a bit of time to come to herself this year as can often happen with fillies who are going from three to four. You could tell in the couple of weeks after the Hoppings Stakes that she really had taken a step forward. She looked very well in herself before the Falmouth, relaxed during the race and quickened up past some smart fillies," said joint-trainer John Gosden.

"She is going to a track that she knows, having won the Nassau last year. She seems in good order and stepping back up to a mile and a quarter shouldn't be an issue. It is a fast mile and a quarter, which should hopefully play to her strengths.

French ace Blue Rose Cen completed a Classic double when winning this year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks). She is currently the 11/8 favourite for the contest.

Gosden added, "Blue Rose Cen is a brilliant filly and this year she has shown what she can do, having won both fillies' French classics. It will be a different test for her coming over here and taking on some different fillies, but she is certainly a brilliant filly. We have to give her eight pounds in the race, so we'll have to see how things go."


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