Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran fourth in the G2 Prix Corrida on the weekend, is likely to skip Royal Ascot and instead target the G1 Pretty Polly in Ireland on July 1, according to owner Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe.
“The Prince of Wales's is an option but I would say, at the moment, talking to Imad this morning and to [trainer] John [Gosden], the preferred option would be the Pretty Polly.
“I hope it might be easier to win! There are going to be other opportunities for her to take on colts, but if I think we can try to get her back on track for the Pretty Polly, I think that would be definitely the preferred option. John and Imad are both happy with that, so I think we will probably aim there.”
He added, “She has come out the Prix Corrida fine. She needed it and had a good blow afterwards. Sometimes these older horses do take a little more time to come than we think. It wasn't quite what we were hoping for, but the main thing is she has come out of it well.”
Third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom last spring, the Blue Diamond Stud homebred went on to take the French equivalent, and the G1 Nassau S. in succession. Second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc weekend, the 4-year-old ended her year with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Fillies & Mare Turf.
Grimthorpe added of Nashwa's later season targets, “There are some nice problems to have. She is obviously already a dual Group 1, Classic-winning filly, so we have to chase those similar big prizes.
“There is the likes of the Eclipse, the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion, but equally so there's the Romanet, the Opera and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at the end of it, so there are quite a few good options for her, mainly over 10 furlongs and everyone seems pretty comfortable with that (trip) at the moment.
“Obviously, these things can change, but I think a mile and a quarter seems to be her best.”
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