Doyle feeling somewhat conflicted but delighted to be back on Nashwa in Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes

Hollie Doyle can’t wait to get back on board her long-absent favourite Nashwa in Saturday’s Group 1 Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes, but a big part of her heart will be at Longchamp, where her other great love Trueshan runs in the Prix Du Cadran.

Jockeys wishing they could be in two places at once is nothing new, but it can seldom have been as painful as it is to Doyle on this busy weekend, for she has enjoyed three Group 1 wins on Nashwa, including a breakthrough first Classic success in the 2022 Prix de Diane, and another three on Trueshan, not to mention a hat-trick of wins in Ascot’s QIPCO British Long Distance Cup.

Doyle has ridden Nashwa in every one of her 16 races, the most recent of which was at Meydan way back in March, and the last time she missed riding Trueshan was when he won his first Cadran three years ago, so it’s no wonder she is somewhat conflicted.

She said: “It’s been a blow having Nashwa out of action for most of the season and her return has been a long time coming, but these things happen and it’s just great that the team have got her back on track for the Sun Chariot.

“I’ve only sat on her once since Dubai, and that was last week, when she felt great. She’s a filly who in the past has taken a few runs to come to herself, but I was pleased with her and whatever happens here we hopefully have QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot to look forward to in two weeks time.”

She added: “It’s just such a shame my two superstars are running at different tracks on the same day, but I can’t be in two places at once. When I missed Trueshan in the Cadran three years ago it was through suspension and James (Doyle) won on him. That was a heartbreaking day, but I can’t complain too much this time.

“I’ll be watching him from Newmarket of course and wishing him well. He’s been such a star for Alan (King) and all of us who have been lucky enough to be connected with him.”

Gosden’s hold strong hand with their duo including past champion Inspiral

Nashwa is joined here by her stable-mate Inspiral, who won last year’s Sun Chariot in great style and famously went on to add a sixth top level win at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, all of them gained under the guidance of the now US-based Frankie Dettori.

Inspiral has not shown the same brilliance since however. Her third to Charyn when bidding for a hat-trick of wins in Deauville’s Prix Jacques le Marois was still some way off her 2023 best and Ryan Moore’s replacing of the luckless Kieran Shoemark, who had come in for unfair criticism following two earlier defeats, failed to make the difference that some anticipated. 

Rab Havlin will be on board Inspiral this time for what reportedly might be her last race. He won the Lockinge Stakes on Audience for owner-breeders the Cheveley Park Stud but has not ridden Inspiral in public since her debut win in a Newmarket maiden.

Menuisier hopeful improving Tamfana can end frustrating run

While either Inspiral or Nashwa would be a formidable rival if back to their best, David Menuisier has high hopes that the two years younger Tamfana can make her breakthrough at Group 1 level, having gone close in two Classics this year.

Tamfana was beaten just a length after having to wait for a run when a strong-finishing fourth to Elmalka in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and then got even closer to the top-class French filly Sparkling Plenty when third in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. Back at a mile last time she was a smooth winner of the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown, and she has been disputing favouritism this week with Inspiral.

“It’s frustrating when you go so close in two Classics but it shows what a classy filly Tamfana is,” said Menuisier, who runs his Irish Derby second Sunway in the Arc and so has a big weekend ahead of him. “It’s not a double that’s easy to achieve, and she was right there in both races.”

“The Sun Chariot looks a good opportunity for her,” he added. “She’s had a good prep for it, with plenty of time to recuperate between her races, and she ran probably her best race of the season over the course and distance in the Guineas, so it makes perfect sense to go back to the scene of the crime. She goes on any ground, so soft going won’t be any problem for her.”

Newmarket the catalyst for an improved showing from Guineas heroine Elmalka?

Like Tamfana, Elmalka was an outsider in the Guineas, in which she got up late to beat subsequent triple Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna, but there was no fluke about it and her trainer Roger Varian is keen on her chance. 

Varian, who has booked William Buick for the ride, said: “Elmalka is in good form and we are looking forward to seeing her back over a mile on Saturday. 

“The Guineas form worked out and in fairness to her she hasn’t done much wrong since, as she ran well at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes and she ran well again at Goodwood in the Nassau. Both times were on fast ground and I think she’ll be more comfortable getting her toe in at Newmarket.”

High class Balding and Burke pair round off strong sextet set for Sun Chariot showdown

Andrew Balding’s See The Fire was well below her best in the Guineas but went on to run much better in the Coronation Stakes and the Coral-Eclipse before going down by only a neck to Opera Singer in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. Like Tamfana, she enjoyed a confidence-boosting Group 3 win last time, in her case at York. 

Her regular rider Oisin Murphy sticks with her, having initially been pencilled in for Tamfana, who he has also ridden all season apart from in the Guineas.

Darnation, also down the field in the Guineas, completes the line-up and joins Elmalka and Nashwa as the third Classic winner in the field, her win in the German equivalent, a Group 2, having come the same day as her trainer Karl Burke won the Irish 1000 Guineas with Fallen Angel.