Wild Illusion will be back for more next year

Wild Illusion will be back for more in 2019. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Wild Illusion is to stay in training next year with big races over a mile and a quarter at the top of her agenda.

The Charlie Appleby-trained filly was a regular in QIPCO British Champions Series races last year, finishing fourth in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and second in the Investec Oaks before landing the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

The daughter of Dubawi signed off the year with second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs this month.

Appleby said: “Wild Illusion is staying in training next season and for sure it is nice to have these good older horses.

“She lost nothing in defeat in the Breeders’ Cup and ever since her third run she has only raced at Group One level, except when running in the Ribblesdale (Group Two) at Royal Ascot.”

He added: “We will see how she is in the spring and what progress she is making, and then look at what races we will take in.

“She is good at a mile and a quarter and I don’t see any reason why we should take her out of that sphere, as she has proven herself at the highest level over that trip.

“I don’t see anything much to gain by stretching her out for that extra two furlongs.”

The last horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Nassau Stakes was Midday, who won it three times (2009-2011).

News that Wild Illusion will stay in training comes hot on the heels of news that Enable will also be back in action in 2019.