Azleet makes Classic case with 50-1 Nell Gwyn success

Azleet earned herself a tilt at the Betfred 1000 Guineas with a shock victory in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

The Stuart Williams-trained three-year-old won twice from seven juvenile starts last season but having come up short when previously tested at Listed and Group-race level, she was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for her reappearance in this leading trial for the first fillies’ Classic of the year.

Settled at the rear of the 12-strong field by Marco Ghiani during the early part of the seven-furlong contest, Azleet started to make her move inside the last three furlongs and really found her stride once hitting the rising ground.

She settled down to fight it out with America Queen in the final half-furlong and finished off best to prevail by a neck, with Act Of Kindness a length and a half further behind in third.

Williams said: “We’ll go there and roll the dice in the 1000 Guineas and it’s going to be a special time for me to have a Group One runner in a race at Newmarket. We came here to see if we were good enough to take up the entry and we got our answer.

“She had a lot to find today on figures, but the last race she ran in last year she missed the break by four lengths and then had a terrible run through the race. She got no run at all, finished strongly and didn’t get beat too far by Spicy Marg who is quite a good filly.

“Marco has given her a brilliant ride today and settled her in at the back. She got a little keen at halfway, but has come home strong. She’s a high-class filly and has won a Group Three, so why not have a go at the Guineas?

“It’s really difficult for a yard of our size and spending power to find horses like this. We’ve been lucky and we get one every couple of years, but we have two at the moment – this filly and Quinault – and it’s exciting.”

He added: “I pride myself on doing the best I can with any horse I get and if there’s a race to be won, we’ll win it. But to be here on the days like this, we don’t get chance to train these types often and to have a chance now to have a go at winning one of our big races on home soil is brilliant.”

While Azleet will return to the Rowley Mile, the Richard Hughes-trained runner-up America Queen – second in the Lowther and fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes last season – will wait an extra week and head to France for her shot at Classic glory at ParisLongchamp.

“She did it the hard way and the winner sat last while we were out in front into a headwind. There was no hiding place and I think she stayed the seven furlongs well there, because she did battle back and was up in the van all the way,” said Hughes.

“She’ll go for the French Guineas and if they go slow like they usually do and she can get a good draw, I would love to roll the dice there.

“She’s run a blinder and she’s a pleasure to train. She’s nothing flash, but tries like hell and you can’t ask for anything else.”

Charlie Appleby could target a Listed prize at York with Act Of Kindness, who he feels could excel later in the season.

He said: “I was very pleased with her and having been reminded I hadn’t put her in the Guineas coming here, I’ve walked away knowing why I didn’t.

“She’s a nice filly but not a Guineas filly and that has all come a bit soon for her.

“She might step up to a mile now and will definitely come forward for it and she had only literally come to hand the last couple of weeks.

“Something like the Michael Seely at York might suit her. I like her and I think if we look after her she will be a nice filly in the second half of the season.”