By Sean Cronin
Last term's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) attempted to make all in Friday evening's G3 JenningsBet In Shiremoor Hoppings Fillies' S. at Newcastle, but was collared by Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Hadaatha {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) nearing the line in the extended 10-furlong distaffers' test.
Shadwell's homebred Roger Varian trainee settled into a smooth rhythm behind Nashwa's moderate tempo and tracked the leaders in fourth until slipping one spot on the home turn. Urged closer with three furlongs remaining, the 3-1 chance went second entering the final furlong and kept on relentlessly under continued urging to deny the faltering odds-on favourite by a half-length in the dying strides. Al Husn has won six of her last seven outings and backed up a second in the Rowley Mile's May 7 G2 Dahlia S. on seasonal return with a breakthrough success in Ayr's May 24 Listed Rothesay S. when last seen.
“She looked so well in herself tonight and is clearly thriving,” said winning rider Jim Crowley. “I was concerned by the nine draw, but she felt in great form and I was able to get a really nice position. It was a bit of a rush when we turned for home, but she picked up nicely and hit the line well. She's improving all the time and, off that run, you crack on and aim a little bit higher. There's no reason why she can't progress. She's not big, but she's a little terrier and I think she has earned a a crack at the [G1] Nassau. I'll speak to Roger [Varian] and connections, but she'd have nothing to lose running in a race like that and everything to gain. Touch wood she'll progress again.”
Racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe admitted Nashwa's effort fell below expectations and said, “I thought it was disappointing. We expected a really a good run for her, as she needed the race in France, but she's been straightforward at home since. Hollie [Doyle] was really happy apart from the last bit, so we obviously have a little bit of thinking to do to see what the best plan might be. In France I knew we were in a bit more trouble, but here I was pretty confident. We'll still think about the [G1] Nassau [at Goodwood], but we have to give it some good consideration.”
Pedigree Notes
Al Husn is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers produced by stakes-winning G1 Prix de l'Opera third Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning G1 1000 Guineas third Hathrah (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}). Hathrah is one of seven black-type performers out of the multiple stakes-placed Zivania (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}), headed by MG1SP sire Ivan Luis (Fr) (Lycius) and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas-winning sire Stagelight (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred bay is kin to a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr).
Friday, Newcastle, Britain
JENNINGSBET IN SHIREMOOR HOPPINGS FILLIES' S.-G3, £60,000, Newcastle, 6-30, 3yo/up, f, 10f 42y (AWT), 2:09.23, st/sl.
1–AL HUSN (IRE), 133, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hadaatha (Ire) (SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $109,194), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hathrah (Ire), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Zivania (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-Jim Crowley. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-0, $170,543. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nashwa (GB), 133, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Alsagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £12,900.
3–One For Bobby (Ire), 133, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–One Spirit (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). O-Miss A H Marshall; B-F Dunne (IRE); T-Hugh Morrison. £6,456.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 3.00, 0.73, 12.00.
Also Ran: Misty Dancer (GB), Heavenly Breath (GB), Star Fortress (Ire), Belt Buckle (GB), Rousay (Ire), Bright Diamond (Ire).
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