Newmarket preview: Nell Gwyn Stakes (16:05)
Published:
Beautiful Romance looked a very smart prospect when winning on her sole start as a juvenile, and can take the step up into Group 3 company in her stride to land the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket today (16:05).
The Saeed Bin Suroor trained filly came from off the pace before showing a devastating turn of foot at the furlong marker to shoot clear and slam Striding Edge by nine lengths in a 10-runner 1m maiden at Doncaster.
Although the well-bred daughter of New Approach may not have beaten much, you could not fail to be impressed by the manner of the victory.
Beautiful Romance clearly has a huge engine and bags of untapped potential, and the drop back to 7f in this is unlikely to be a problem.
Another plus is that her handler has a terrific strike arte of just under 27% with his runners at the venue in the past 12 months, and Beautiful Romance also has the services of James Doyle in the saddle.
Beautiful Romance is currently 20/1 with Coral for the 1000 Guineas, and 16/1 for the Oaks, and those odds are sure to certain if she wins this afternoon.
Osaila is the form horse in the race and sets the standard in what is a competitive looking renewal.
The Richard Hannon trained filly won three times as a juvenile, including a Group 3 at Ascot and a valauble sales race over course and distance.
The daughter of Danehill Dancer rounded of the campaign with a cracking third of 13 to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita and, off an official rating of 109, has 4lb and upwards in hand on her rivals.
That suggest that Osaila will be a tough nut to crack, but she has had seven starts already and may be vulnerable to a lightly-raced improver like Beautiful Romance.
Lady Correspondent has a similar profile to the selection, and given connections commands the utmost respect.
The well bred daughter of War Front, who is trained by John Gosden, showed a smart turn of foot and good attitude to win over course and distance on her sole start as a two-year-old and is open to any amount of progress this season.
Off an official rating of just 77 she does have to step up significantly, but Lady Correspondent is in the right hands and also has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle.
