By Tom Frary
If riding Classic winners came down to sheer ability alone, there was never a question that Hollie Doyle would achieve the landmark sometime soon but even the best need the horse to get it done and on Sunday she had just that as Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) conquered Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. So good by this point, Doyle has almost transcended the subject of female jockeys winning Europe's monuments but it still had to happen and in Imad Al Sagar's TDN Rising Star she had the ideal portal to the promised land. Sent off the 3-1 favourite with the deadly combination of the best form, having been third in the Oaks 13 days earlier, and a perfect inside berth, the bay was caught in front from the break with no takers for the pace-setting role. Tending to race a touch free as a result, the question was what would the Gosdens' raider have for the finish when taking command just over 300 metres from the line. Despite the attack of Peter Bradley and the Lerners' La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), there was always something in the tank and the prevailing margin was a short neck, with 4 1/2 lengths back to Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in third.
“I haven't got the words to explain how I feel–I am privileged to be in the position I am in,” she said. “She's very good, as things didn't pan out how I wanted but she has plenty of class and responded to pressure. She's a star. It's such a prestigious race and this is a huge honour.” John Gosden said of the winning jockey, “She's a very talented rider with great character. The race was a muddle and we didn't intend to be on the front, but it came out well. This is the filly's distance–the Oaks was too far.”
Nashwa debuted in the seven-furlong Newmarket novice in October dominated by the classy Haggas runner Golden Lyra (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and ran the kind of race full of promise expected of a future Oaks winner, before earning TDN Rising Star status with a 6 1/2-length romp on her comeback at a mile at Haydock Apr. 23. Prepping for her Classic in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over a mile and a quarter May 14, she continued to excite with a smooth win from Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who in a twist of fate would go on to beat Golden Lyra in the Listed Abingdon S. next time. Epsom-bound despite initial talk of coming here, Nashwa gave a solid display to follow home Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) over a trip that stretched her on a track that also looked to have compromised her, but this was the kind of quick turnaround for which Gosden Sr is not renowned.
Helped by being handed a golden draw in two, with the 5-1 second favourite Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on her inside, Nashwa was sent forward from the break to take full advantage but ended up exposed in the front line until Ioritz Mendizabal crossed over on Tariyana (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). With that filly providing only brief cover, Doyle was committed to staying at the fore matching strides with Olivier Peslier on Agave and they straightened for home together prepared for what seemed to be a private match. By the time they passed the 300-metre marker, the Juddmonte filly was beginning to back out of the fight and it was Gerald Mosse and La Parisienne who emerged from behind as the biggest threat. Having been smuggled up the rail, the 22-1 shot looked to have been delivered with perfect timing but Nashwa gave generously to keep her at bay and provide her rider with the milestone victory. There was a moment of great sportsmanship and kinship after the line, with the veteran maestro Mosse demonstrating his class and confirming why he is widely held with such distinction in racing by congratulating his ground-breaking young jockey rival.
“I've got a lot of people to thank,” Doyle said. “Without Imad Al Sagar I don't know if I would ever have been in the position to get an opportunity like this. These types of horses are hard to come upon and I'm only 25, so it's relatively early on in my career and I feel pretty lucky. I felt very vulnerable at the two-furlong pole, I'm not going to lie. It was a muddling race and I felt beforehand someone would be a bit more decisive pace-wise than they were. I didn't really want to be where I was, but she was very relaxed and happy to be one off the rail with a bit of company either side. She's versatile and responsive when needs be. When the second horse came to my girths she really dug deep, which was great to see. I think she could be even better next year.”
“If you'd said to me three years ago that I would be riding in a Classic for Mr Gosden I'd have laughed,” she added. “To be in this position is incredible and when you ride at this level, the trainer has done all they can and the owner has put you in position, so it's down to me on the day. I just expect a lot from myself and I don't want to let people down. You have to prepare yourself to be at your best when given the opportunity and that's what I try and do.”
John Gosden continued his praise of the rider and said, “The owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar said to me two or three years ago that he had two or three jockeys he was looking at and wanted to retain a jockey. He showed me the list and I said 'Hollie Doyle', and I know other people would back me on that. She's hugely talented and horses run for her. She's incredibly meticulous and hard-working and she analyses things properly. The race didn't work out how we thought, but we did have the Plan B to stay forward if that occurred and she's shown herself as a class rider and the filly is a class filly who was beautifully ridden. I am proud and Thady is extremely proud, because it's the youth team teaming up again. It's quite obvious that I'll be surplus to requirements quite soon with the youthful Thady and Hollie!”
Of Nashwa's immediate target, he added, “I think she'll have a freshen up. She's run in two Oaks, which is tough, but she seemed remarkably calm after the race and was having a very natural, normal blow. Star of Seville won this a few days after the Oaks, but she didn't have a hard race there as she was stopped three out and just hacked home. One race that stands out is the Prix de l'Opera and I think if we make that our big target and come back from there, that would be the way to play it. I think she definitely deserves a freshen up and a summer holiday now.”
The €65,000 Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale graduate La Parisienne had looked one of the better outsiders, having won impressively at Deauville and Saint-Cloud before finding only Hidden Dimples (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine. Bought into by the Kentucky-based Peter Bradley earlier this year, she has provided handsome reward for that 70% investment with Marc Leonetti, JML Racing, Meridian International and Remy Dupuy-Naulot also involved. The original plan had been to send her to Chad Brown this year, but there was no decision immediately after Sunday's race, just mass celebration of playing such a key role in the Classic.
Yann Lerner was overcome with emotion at the performance of the runner-up and said, “It is almost a victory and to participate in such races with a chance is what we dream about all the time. She had a perfect trip, she came out in time to win it but the winner was too good.” Yann's father Carlos added, “We have always like this filly, who was bred at Haras du Cadran by my long-time friend Pierre Talcard. He had recommended me to buy her at the yearling sales and I did well to follow his advice.” Gerard Larrieu, representing Rosacea's owner Haras de la Perelle, commented, “She ran a great race and Christophe Soumillon was very happy with her effort. She finished strongly, showed her usual turn of foot but with the bad draw she was left with too much to do.”
Nashwa, who is the eighth Classic winner for her sire, is the third foal out of the Listed Gillies Fillies' S. winner and G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). 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 here. 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 yearling filly is by Decorated Knight (Ire) while she also has a colt foal by Dubawi (Ire).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-19, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.63, g/s.
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
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. TDN Rising Star. O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Hollie Doyle. €571,400. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 5-3-0-2, €696,538. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–La Parisienne (Fr), 126, f, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Skysweeper (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (€65,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Peter R Bradley III, Marc Leonetti, Ecurie JML Racing, Meridian International SARL & Remy Dupuy-Naulot; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, Ecurie Patrick Klein & SCEA Haras du Ma (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €228,600.
3–Rosacea (Ire), 126, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Relizane (GB), by Zamindar.
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane Wattel. €114,300.
Margins: SNK, 4HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 22.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Agave (GB), Fall In Love (Ire), Daisy Maisy (GB), Zellie (Fr), Tariyana (Fr), Beaute Cachee (Fr), Place du Carrousel (Ire), Babala (Ire), Toy (Ire), Times Square (Fr), Queen Trezy (Fr), Yukata (Ire), Nadette (Fr), Galla (Fr). Scratched: Ottilien (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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