Nashwa Invades France for Prix de Diane
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Nashwa wins the Fillies Trial at Newbury Racecourse
Cazoo Oaks (G1) third Nashwa will head to France June 19 for a second shot at classic glory in the Prix de Diane Longines-French Oaks (G1) at Chantilly Racecourse.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly is one of 18 in the line-up for the French Oaks, with the David Menuisier-trained Ottilien the other British hope. Aidan O'Brien, victorious in the race for the first time last year with Joan of Arc , sends out that one's full sister, the Galileo filly Toy.
Hollie Doyle takes the ride again on Nashwa. The pair loomed up dangerously at Epsom this month before fading in the final furlong as Tuesday pipped Emily Upjohn by a short head. Nashwa was sent off 4-1 second favorite, having made a huge impression in listed stakes victories at Haydock and Newbury.
Hollie Doyle has the mount on Nashwa on the heels of a Royal Ascot success in the Coventry Stakes with Bradsell (pictured) at Ascot Racecourse
Imad Alsagar's daughter of Frankel drops down in trip in the Diane, which is run over the 1 mile and 2 1/2-furlong distance and is no bigger than 5-2 with Coral, Paddy Power, and Betfair bookmakers. She will break from stall two, the same berth from which Treve scored in 2013.
Her biggest threat according to the betting is Agave , representing four-time Diane-winning trainer Andre Fabre. She was beaten at odds-on in her trial for this, the Prix Greffulhe (G2) in early May, but had previously shown a deal of potential with easy wins in the Prix Penelope (G3) and Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud.
Zellie , last seen finishing fourth in the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1), is another live chance for Fabre, with Tom Marquand in the saddle. The Wootton Bassett (GB) filly will hope to return to the form that saw her capture the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium des Pouliches (G1) as a juvenile last fall. Place Du Carrousel and Babala complete the trainer's strong quartet.
From a rich classic-winning family which also includes Gleneagles and Marvellous , Coolmore's homebred Toy will need to step forward significantly having finished down the field in last month's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-French One Thousand Guineas (G1). The French One Thousand Guineas was the stakes debut for Toy, who turned heads with an impressive maiden romp at Cork in April.
Ottilien is a general 25-1 chance and was successful at Chantilly at the start of the season. She chased home Sea Silk Road in the William Hill Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood on her latest appearance, finishing fourth, and is fitted with a first-time hood.