Nazeef Tops 5-Win Wednesday

Nazeef

-trained 4-year-old filly landed Wednesday's Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes (Listed) over the Park all-weather, becoming the highlight of a five-win day for Shadwell Racing, worldwide.

Ridden to perfection and with no lack of patience by Jim Crowley, the daughter of Invincible Spirit embodied her father's name with a determined run, overcoming a poor draw and sweeping past the field to defeat winner Billesdon Brook by three-quarters of a length.

The victory was her fourth consecutive from five starts. She was third on debut last June at . Wednesday's win was her first start of the season after having capped 2019 with a six-length defeat of useful filly Salayel in company on September 21.

“It wasn't a great draw, but she broke smartly and I was struggling to find position and got shuffled back on the bend,” Crowley said. “She came from off the pace on a track that has been showing that it's hard to come from off the pace. I would have liked to have been a bit handier, but I couldn't do anything about it. She travelled sweetly and quickened up nicely. She's done nothing but improve from last year and become better and better. She's a lovely big type and hopefully she'll improve from this. I like the way she did it. She showed a really good mind.”

The excellent day kicked off in France with -conditioned , a half-brother to French Derby third Motamarris also by Invincible Spirit, winning his second race from five starts when taking a one-mile 3-year-old conditions heat at La Teste de Buch in front-running fashion under Valentin Seguy.

Next, at Kempton Park, Charlie Hills-trained Shatha, a daughter of Shadwell star Muhaarar and Group 1 winner Lear's Princess, won on debut over 10 furlongs, out-willing The Queen's Lightness by a short head at odds of +6600.

HH Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's colours continued Shadwell Racing's momentum with John Gosden-trained , who brought light to his name, which loosely translates into “the real deal.” Winning the seven-furlong novice going away by 2½ lengths, the son of Lope de Vega was ridden by Dane O'Neill.

Said pilot would return later to break the one-mile course record with well-regarded , a Dubawi-sired half-brother to Elarqam, who bolted off by nearly four lengths at the finish of the handicap. Trained by Mark Johnston, it was third-time-lucky for the gelding after finishing second in both his career starts last year.

-Shadwell Racing

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