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British Champions Day the ultimate aim for Nashwa

3 minute read

The Gosden-trained multiple Group 1-winner has plenty of options for the remainder of the campaign, but connections are highlighting the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot as their likely final destination.

NASHWA.
NASHWA. Picture: PA

Having taken some time to come to hand this season, Nashwa returned to winning ways in the best possible fashion when recording a third top-level success in the Falmouth Stakes at a rain-sodden Newmarket in July. The daughter of Frankel went on to post classy efforts in defeat by finishing third in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and runner-up to stablemate Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International at York's Ebor Meeting. 

Nashwa's most recent assignment, saw yet another excellent effort in defeat when running on strongly from the rear of the field to finish third behind Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last weekend. 

A trip to Paris in an attempt to go one spot better than when second in last year's Prix de l'Opera could be on the cards, while she also a general 5/2 chance for the Sun Chariot at Newmarket later in the month. 

However, it seems a tilt at Ascot's Qipco British Champions Day is what connections are really focusing on at this moment in time. 

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Imad Al Sagar, said: "She ran a super race on Saturday, she really did. She's proven herself in top-class company against the colts and has come out of the race really well,"

"We'll look at the options, but I think possibly the end game would be Qipco Champions Day, whether that be for the QEII or the Champion Stakes.

"I don't think it would be necessary to have another run between now and then, but she is in the Sun Chariot or there's the Prix de l'Opera.

"The Opera does come up quite quickly, so we'll see."

Beyond Qipco British Champions Day, the Breeders' Cup remains a possibility although Grimthorpe was keen to stress that Ascot was her likely target for now. 

He added: "It [Breeders' Cup] certainly hasn't been discounted because you never know what may or may not happen, but I think at the moment Ascot would be the main aim.

"Nothing has been decided [regarding next year], we'll see how she is and see how she goes and Imad will decide nearer the time."

 


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