Nezwaah Springs Upset in Pretty Polly Stakes

Nezwaah rallied smartly from well back to take the July 2 Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) at the Curragh by 3 1/2 lengths over Rain Goddess.

Neither of the two favorites figured in the finish, as Journey, winner of the QIPCO British Champions Filly & Mare Stakes (G1) last fall, got home 10th, and Zhukova, fresh from a victory in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park, could muster no better than fourth.

Nezwaah, a 4-year-old Dubawi filly out of the Dansili mare Ferdoos, was held up in the early going by jockey Andrea Atzeni. Asked for more run with three furlongs left, she quickly picked up the pace, led entering the final furlong, and was kept to task to the finish.

Rain Goddess, a 3-year-old daughter of Galileo, also raced back in the field under Ryan Moore. The Aidan O'Brien trainee, second in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot only 10 days earlier, followed in the wake of Nezwaah to earn second in the final 100 yards without threatening for the win.

Turret Rocks, trained by Jim Bolger, came in third.

Nezwaah finished 10 furlongs over good turf in 2:06.19. She was bred by Darley and is owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

Nezwaah won three of her first four starts as a 3-year-old, then faltered when sent against a bit tougher company later in the year. In her final start of 2016, she finished seventh in the E. P. Taylor Stakes presented by HPIBet (G1T) at Woodbine Oct. 16.

The Roger Varian trainee started 2017 with a victory in a listed race at Ayr, her only start of the year prior to the Pretty Polly.