By Sean Cronin
Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket was a wide-open affair beforehand, but became a full-on dress rehearsal for HQ's G1 1000 Guineas as Amo Racing's Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Mamma Morton {Ire}, by Elnadim) delivered a devastating turn of acceleration in the closing stages to pulverise her 14 rivals in the seven-furlong staging post. The 16-1 chance had previously debuted with an impressive two-length triumph over course and distance in October and was immediately quoted at odds as low as 6-1 for the Rowley Mile Classic in the wake of a 2 3/4-length tally here.
Mammas Girl was a shade tardy at the break and raced in rear, within range of the leaders, through the halfway point of this sophomore return and black-type bow. Last to come off the bridle after passing the quarter-mile marker, she was shaken up when angled into an open lane approaching the final furlong and went through a range of gears underneath the stands' side fence on the ascent to the line to win, going away, from G3 Prestige S. victrix Fairy Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for a perfect two-for-two record.
“She won very well here first time, but even so I was slightly worried about the [undulating] track,” admitted trainer Richard Hannon. “She missed the gate today, which I was surprised at, but she's won extremely well. She's very straightforward, she's worked very well all spring and I thought she'd run very well today. I must admit she's surprised me slightly in the way she's won and what I like about her is she's gone slightly under the radar, but we've always loved her at home. She looks a very good filly, but all my Guineas winners–Sky Lantern, Night Of Thunder and Billesdon Brook–were beaten in trials. Hopefully, she bucks the trend as she'll be coming back here [for the G1 1000 Guineas], for sure.”
Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian added, “It's very exciting winning a Nell Gwyn here, it's amazing and I can't hold my excitement, to be honest. We've competed for the last few years and haven't quite managed to get through the line. She gave a cracking performance on her debut and was fantastic today. We've always loved her and we couldn't believe what price she was today. I have a really big [first] weekend [in May] as I've got Affirmative Lady going for the [GI] Kentucky Oaks in America, having won the Gulfstream Oaks quote convincingly. I have to decide whether to go there or come here, but it's a good decision to have to make.”
Pedigree Notes
Mammas Girl is the 12th of 13 foals and one of 11 scorers produced by a daughter of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Gharam (Green Dancer). Descendants of Gharam also include G3 Summer S.-winning G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup placegetter Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), stakes-winning GI Spinster S. second Tamweel (Gulch), G1 Phoenix S. third Lottie Dod (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and GSW G1 Cape Fillies Guineas third Third Runway (SAf) (Gimmethegreenlight {Aus}). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-sister to MGSP Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Master Of War (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), Listed Waterford Testimonial S. third Life In Colour (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and a yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire).
Wednesday, Newmarket, Britain
LANWADES STUD NELL GWYN S.-G3, £80,000, Newmarket, 4-19, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:28.70, g/s.
1–MAMMAS GIRL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Mamma Morton (Ire), by Elnadim
2nd Dam: Gharam, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Water Lily (Fr), by Riverman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£35,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Robert Cornelius (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $61,250. *1/2 to Master Of War (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), SW & MGSP-Eng, $180,480; and Life In Colour (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fairy Cross (Ire), 128, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Devonshire (Ire), by Fast Company (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £17,200.
3–Secret Angel (Ire), 128, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Meydan Princess (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (£68,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Nick Bradley Racing 40, Elaine Burke & Partner; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £8,608.
Margins: 2 3/4, HF, 1. Odds: 16.00, 4.50, 40.00.
Also Ran: Karsavina (GB), Believing (Ire), Girl Racer (Ire), Sweet Harmony (Ire), Queen Olly (Ire), Frankness (GB), Coppice (GB), Barefoot Angel (Ire), Lady Bullet (Ire), Inner Space (GB), Small Oasis (GB), Dubai Jemila (GB).
MAMMAS GIRL wins impressively in the Stakes for trainer @rhannonracing at @NewmarketRace
Sold by @W_Hbloodstock at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale to @Doyle_Racing #GoffsGrad
— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) April 19, 2023
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