Frankel's Nashwa Too Good In The Nassau

Class has told all week so far at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and on Thursday it was the turn of TDN Rising Star Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to excel in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Sent off the 6-5 favourite having loped to post like an old hand under Hollie Doyle, Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane heroine cruised from rear down the outer to swoop on the front end with a furlong remaining and assert for an ultimately-comfortable 1 3/4-length success from the 40-1 outsider Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), with Lilac Road (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) half a length behind in third. “I am very emotional when it comes to her–she is my first Classic-winning homebred and is a future broodmare for Blue Diamond,” Al Sagar commented. “We noticed from early in her career that she was special, but how special we didn't know. Since April she has developed at a very fast pace physically and mentally.”

Nashwa lands the Nassau & records her second G1 victory for team Gosden & @HollieDoyle1 @Goodwood_Races

🏇 Six runs
🥇 Four wins
🏆 G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes
🏆 G1 Prix de Diane
🏆 Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes
🚀 Brilliant filly pic.twitter.com/n2RSDYqSQ4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2022

Labelled a TDN Rising Star following her emphatic 6 1/2-length success on her 3-year-old bow over a mile at Haydock Apr. 23, Nashwa has continued to grow in stature with each passing week and her smooth win in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over a mile and a quarter May 14 was followed by a game third in the Oaks which stretched her too far. Back in action 16 days later when she provided her jockey and her owner-breeder with personal landmarks in the Diane at an appreciative Chantilly, this was a quick enough turnaround with all that action in the background but the signs cantering down were all positive.

That perfect rhythm she displayed on the way to the start was also there in the race, where she accepted restraint with total compliance as the match made in heaven with her rider deepens further each time they join together. Always well within her comfort zone, she was asked to close as the front-running Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) failed to get away approaching two out and was able to make up the deficit with ease. Picking up the unexposed fellow 3-year-old Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and Aristia soon after, the bay strode to the line typically powerfully to give the impression she was in a class of her own despite the final margins.

Hollie Doyle provided her lowdown after. “She gave me some feel. A change of tactics today from France, but it paid off,” she said. “Nashwa is A1, you can't fault her. I rode her aggressively in France because we had a good draw and I wanted to hold my position. Today, in between her work from her previous run, she now knows what she is doing so I didn't want to light her up and ride her from a pace angle. I came down the hill with a double handful. She travels very well, but she takes a while to hit top gear.”

“This is her perfect trip,” Doyle added. “She has a high cruising speed and sees it out very well. She is push-button and you can ride her anywhere, which is really nice. Nashwa is a horse of a lifetime and if it wasn't for Imad Al Sagar giving me this opportunity, I might not have enjoyed days like this. Every group one means a lot, so you've got to enjoy it while it lasts because you get home tonight and you'll be back into work mode for the next day. You have limited time to enjoy these moments.”

Al Sagar added, “The important part of it is I own the family. She was not disgraced in the Oaks, but ran out of stamina–we didn't know beforehand about the trip and found out. It was a beautiful performance in the French Oaks and to do that with only 16 days between two Classics, she must be very special. Our target will be the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day and then the Breeders' Cup [Filly & Mare Turf]. She has had a very busy season and we definitely would not want to overdo it. She will be kept in training at four and I think she will be better then–the whole family thrive with age.”

John Gosden said, “We have relaxed in last and what they've done is suddenly pull the pace up. If you look at the fractions, they did two 14-second furlongs in the middle, which is as slow as you can go. Coming from last made it tough on her, as they are quickening down the hill but Nashwa has got the class and when the ground levelled off she was happier. She is versatile to do that from off the pace. I think next time we might have to put a pacemaker in.”

Aristia was running the race of her life and trainer Richard Hannon said of the runner-up, “Aristia is always a filly that runs massively above what you were expecting. For some reason she did not come in her coat until well after Ascot. We have got her back right and she looks a million. She ran a super race and we have got the rest of the season to look forward to. Everything is an option now. She is a filly with an awful lot of scope. There are some lovely races coming up and I would love to hope that she will stay in training for next year.”

Maureen Haggas said of Lilac Road, “I thought she ran great. She did not get the smoothest run through, which often happens at Goodwood. In the last 50 yards she flew–I am thrilled with her. Looking at that, I think we could step her up to 12 furlongs happily and she is getting better as she has never been easy. We went down first and she wasn't too bad today. She is settling in her races and has galloped right to the line. I don't know what plans there might be. She is well worth keeping at this standard, and William will find something and talk to Jon and Julia [Aisbitt] and work out a plan.”

Nashwa's dam Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) took time to fulfil her potential, finishing second in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet as a 4-year-old before closing out her career with success in the Listed Gillies Fillies' S. She is a granddaughter of the Listed Princess Elizabeth S. runner-up Sweeping (GB) (Indian King), who produced the dual listed-winning sprinter Watching (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who was also runner-up in the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene. Sweeping is also the second dam of the listed scorer Nufoos (GB) (Zafonic), who in turn produced three black-type winners in the G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Mill Reef S. hero Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), the G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Muraaqaba (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Listed Sandringham H. winner and dual group 3-placed Muteela (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Also related to the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Ball Lightning (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and the GIII Will Rogers S. scorer Media Mogul (GB) (First Trump {GB}), Princess Loulou's filly by Decorated Knight (Ire) is entered in the upcoming Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale (lot 93). She also has a colt foal by Dubawi (Ire) and is carrying a full-sister to Nashwa at present.

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT, 2:05.77, g/f.
1–NASHWA (GB), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Princess Loulou (Ire) (SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr, GSP-Ire, $175,317), by Pivotal (GB)
     2nd Dam: Aiming (GB), by Highest Honor (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Sweeping (GB), by Indian King
O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Hollie Doyle. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 6-4-0-2, $1,144,433. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Aristia (Ire), 135, f, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Aloisi (GB), by Kalanisi (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (85,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mrs E Roberts; B-Rathasker Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £129,000.
3–Lilac Road (Ire), 135, f, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Lavender Lane (Ire), by Shamardal.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Jon and Julia Aisbitt (IRE); T-William Haggas. £64,560.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.20, 40.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Fonteyn (GB), Dreamloper (Ire), One For Bobby (Ire), Rogue Millennium (Ire), Concert Hall (Ire). Scratched: Ville De Grace (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.