By Tom Frary
Providing the perfect follow-up for the reintroduction of his half-sister Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the feature G1 Sun Chariot Stakes, Imad Al Sagar's newcomer Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Princess Loulou {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) lit up Newmarket's Saturday card by becoming his sire's 45th TDN Rising Star in the mile maiden. Purchased for 725,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1, the John and Thady Gosden-trained chestnut was switched off in rear early by Hollie Doyle whose body language spoke volumes preparing for the downhill slide into the dip.
Picking up with an impressive flourish towards the far side, the 100-30 shot was in front a furlong out and only needed to be kept up to his work to secure a cosy half-length verdict over the experienced Wild Nature (GB) (Kingman {GB}), with the Shadwell newcomer Nakeeb (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) three lengths behind in third.
“That was a taking performance,” Doyle said. “He could have won that in the paddock. He went to sleep early and then really surprised me how quickly he put the race to bed. He has a great mind, but is big and raw and burly.”
Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said, “It was a very pleasing start and he has taken a while to come to himself. He went into training quite late and John has brought him on and he's been very straightforward which is really encouraging. The nice thing was he was sort of half-asleep through the race and then picked up nicely as you would want him too.”
“You always hope, but first time you never know and it looked a smart race,” he added. “When the other horse came to him he then found a bit more and went on. We will see how he is and I think in John's mind he would have liked to have given him another run, but I think he was thinking we might finish second or third and then slot in a maiden so we weren't chasing one of those in the spring. Now I think we have to think about where we want to be and whether he needs it and how he comes out of it. Plans may have slightly changed.”
Nashwa, who is the winner of the G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Nassau Stakes, G1 Falmouth Stakes and whose four group 1 placings include a third in the Oaks, is so far the best progeny out of Princess Loulou who was a listed scorer who finished second in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet. The family includes the dual listed winner and multiple group-placed Watching (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the group and graded-stakes placed Media Mogul (GB) (First Trump {GB}).
5th-Newmarket, £21,000, Mdn, 10-5, 2yo, 8fT, 1:43.09, g/s.
NEBRAS (GB), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
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
(725,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,861. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. *1/2 to Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $2,104,369.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
