Right on Schedule, Nashwa Targets BC Filly & Mare Turf

It's been many months since John Gosden set Nashwa  on a path toward the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 5 at Keeneland, a plan he has found to be a necessity for success in the World Championships.

"She hasn't been over-raced this season and we always planned to go to Longchamp and then here at the end of the year," Gosden said Nov. 3 on the Keeneland backstretch. "At Breeders' Cup—European trainers learn the hard way—you can't come as an afterthought. That rarely works. 

"You really have to plan it from a long way out. A lot of people do that now, where they used to not do that in the old days."

Even though Nashwa finished third in her debut just over a year ago at Newmarket, Gosden saw enough in that effort to think that such lofty targets as the Breeders' Cup could eventually be in the mix for the daughter of Frankel . In that seven-furlong test Oct. 30 at Newmarket, Nashwa was left at the gate but rallied to finish third. That would be her lone juvenile test as she'd be rested until April.

Nashwa made her 3-year-old debut in spectacular fashion, winning at Haydock Park by 6 1/2 lengths ahead of securing a clear win in her stakes debut in the Haras de Bouquetot Fillies Trial May 14 at Newbury. Now the focus would turn to finding the best fit for Nashwa's talents.

In her classic debut, Nashwa finished third to Tuesday  in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) at Epsom. Gosden still saw the talent and the effort, but determined the 1 1/2-mile test was a bit too far. The filly would be given another classic opportunity—16 days later—and this time she delivered a victory in the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) at Longchamp at 1 5/16 miles.

"She showed up with that class again to win at a mile-and-a-quarter," Gosden.

At that point Nashwa was given a short break ahead of a successful debut against older fillies and mares in the 1 1/4-mile Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) July 28 at Goodwood. With the late season targets in mind, the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) and the Breeders' Cup, she would be rested ahead of the Oct. 2 start at Longchamp. Gosden believes a wide draw there made a tough race even tougher as regular jockey Hollie Doyle had to use the filly a bit to get early position. But Gosden was still pleased to see her deliver another top effort to finish second, a half-length behind Place du Carrousel .

WATCH: Gosden Hopes for Good Racing Luck for Mishriff, Nashwa

Gosden said it appears that Nashwa has handled the travel to North America and he expects her to like the firm going on the Keeneland turf. He believes the race's 1 3/16-mile distance should be a good fit.

"She didn't see the mile-and-a-half Epsom Oaks; she was still traveling but she hit the stamina wall. So we immediately worked out a path to the Prix de Diane (16 days) later and she showed up with that class again," Gosden said. "So you would have to say the one-mile and three-sixteenths is going to be sharp enough for her. I have no doubt about that. Yes. I couldn't be much happier if it was a mile-and-a quarter."

Nashwa will start from post 3 in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the expected field of 12.

Nashwa is a homebred for owner Imad Alsagar, who in 2007 captured the Vodafone Epsom Derby (G1) with Authorized  . He co-owned Authorized with Saleh Al Homeizi. Gosden said he's been training horses for Alsagar for about four years.

"He's a passionate owner/breeder and has his own farm and comes up with all the matings himself," Gosden said. "He really understands it and has a great and deep love of horses."