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| Sumita Pawar |
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Nashwa, a 4YO, Frankel filly, proved her talent by winning the Falmouth Stakes, which is part of the Champions Series. This was her third Group One victory, following her successful runs in the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes in 2022.
Despite underperforming in her previous two outings this season, she justified the decision to supplement her for this race by paying £20,000 last Saturday.
Nashwa Dominates Falmouth Stakes
Hollie Doyle, her partner in the race, guided Nashwa smoothly into the lead in the final furlong, resulting in a stunning five-length victory over Remarquee (11-2), with Via Sistina, the Evens favourite, finishing third, another length and a half behind.
Nashwa is trained by John and Thady Gosden, with John Gosden previously winning the Falmouth Stakes with Ryafan (1997), Elusive Kate (2013), and Nazeef (2020) when he held the sole license.
John Gosden said, “She’s a filly that has taken a long time to come to herself. She ran in France and she wasn’t there and at Newcastle, she was a little keen early. It’s a stiff mile and a quarter up there and she just over-raced early and got caught in the last few strides.
“I only thought in the last week that she needs racing, I didn’t want her to be too fresh for the Nassau Stakes by waiting seven weeks. I thought coming here would suit as she’s got plenty of speed anyhow that mile has really suited her – she’s a filly who could run in the QEII (at Ascot) at the end of the year.
“I didn’t like the gap between Newcastle and the Nassau, she gets big and she gets fresh and she goes to Goodwood and over-races and is too keen. So, this race is close to home and just thought of it last weekend. I rang Teddy (Grimthorpe) and he wondered what I was smoking! I just knew it was the right thing to come here and she’s proven it. She’s a classy filly.
“She’s a powerful filly and she’s built like a colt and a mile and a quarter is the top of her range really. She was third in an Oaks and we found out she didn’t stay. The plan now is to go to the Nassau.
“She’s finely come to herself. A lot of them have found the spring difficult, Emily Upjohn was going to run in Dubai and she didn’t end up running until June, so with the fillies you have to be patient. She’s come here though and she’s super adaptable.
“Hollie gets an excellent tune out of her. She’s overraced at Newcastle but we’ve learned from that and come here.”
Hollie Doyle said, “Things are going excellent, so I can’t complain. For this filly to get her head back in front and just display how good we know she is - it is the icing on the cake. She’s been a real flagbearer for me and the team and there were plenty of doubters on the back of her last two runs today, but John Gosden is a master and you shouldn’t doubt him.
“I think she’s just proven to be extremely versatile, you can ride her anywhere and she stays 10 furlongs. Plenty more doors have been opened stepping her back down to a mile.”
Ralph Beckett, trainer of runner-up Remarquee, said,“It will be interesting to see what the Timeform men say (about the run). I was really pleased with her. She is getting more professional with racing as I hoped she might as it is a trait of the family. It was a good effort, but John (Gosden) got it right again (with Nashwa).
“She is in the Rothschild so we will see how that goes. She is in the Matron Stakes, and there is the Sun Chariot as well. Ground doesn’t appear to matter much to her. We will see how we feel at the time and take our chances as they arise. I’d say we will keep to a mile for the time being.
“As for Prosperous Voyage (last year’s winner who was seventh today) it was just the ground, and she didn’t handle it at all.”
George Boughey, who saddled the third Via Sistina, said, “I think it was the step back to a mile and she just got tapped for toe I think. Jamie (Spencer) gave her one flick and I was pleased to see her stay on well. She looked like she was booked for fourth, fifth, or sixth at one point, but up the hill, she galloped out well and went all the way to the end. She will have a bit of a break now and we will prep her for the autumn and back to 10 furlongs. We won’t see her over a mile again.”
The Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes is a race that is included in the.