Nashwa set for memorable QEII renewal in a field littered with Group 1 stars

Star filly Nashwa is set to meet three fellow Classic winners from the younger generation when she drops back to a mile for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) against Chaldean, Paddington and Tahiyra rather than taking on last year’s winner Bay Bridge and a strong supporting cast in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Picking the better option for her was particularly important for John and Thady Gosden, whose prospects of holding off Aidan O’Brien in the battle for the trainers’ title could depend upon it, but the filly’s inseparable partner Hollie Doyle was  totally relaxed about it throughout discussions.

For such is Nashwa’s versatility, trip-wise, that it made little or no difference to her which race she ran in, although there is no question that last year’s Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes winner has never looked better than she did back at a mile in rain-softened ground in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes.

She’s really stepped forward again this year

“It really hasn’t mattered to me which race they chose,” Doyle said. “Nashwa seems just as good at a mile as a mile and a quarter, so the trip doesn’t seem to be an issue, and she goes on any ground. She’d have had a right shout in either of them.

“She’s been great lately when placed against the colts in the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes, and those two runs have been close to her career best. Physically she does well year in, year out, and she’s really stepped forward again this year. The figures say she’s improved significantly again, which is mad, so I’m delighted she’s staying in training.”

The market for Saturday’s race has been dominated by Paddington and Tahiyra, but while testing ground ought to hold no terrors for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish 2000 Guineas winner Paddington, who has made enormous strides since the start of the year and whose Sussex Stakes win came on soft ground, it’s a concern for the Tahiyra camp.

Tahiyra’s trainer Dermot Weld is a big fan of QIPCO British Champions Day, where he has had four winners, and he gave a positive bulletin at the start of the week regarding his brilliant Irish 1000 Guineas winner. Weld has confirmed that he intends Tahiyra to travel over, but underlined that he would be concerned about running her if the going became very heavy.

Chaldean’s win from outsider Hi Royal in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas has not worked out well, and he was soundly beaten into second by Paddington at Royal Ascot afterwards, but he’s a top-class colt all the same, and the Guineas confirmed he handles soft ground. 

He impressed in a recent racecourse gallop at Kempton and he’s a live substitute for his QIPCO 2000 Guineas-winning rider Frankie Dettori, who switched here in the absence of Inspiral on account of the ground.

One trainer who will welcome every drop of rain is Ralph Beckett, who on Monday paid £70,000 to supplement Angel Bleu, a dual Group 1 winner at two who has looked as good as ever this year. 

Beckett said: “It’s going to be tough, but he’s in very good form and when the ground became soft we made the decision to supplement. The ground will even everything up as he is a proven soft ground performer, unlike some of the others. 

“This will be his last race as he is off to stud at the French operation of his new part owner Nurlan Bizakov.”

Big Rock and Facteur Cheval fly the flag for French

Big Rock and Facteur Cheval are both live chances for France, which has supplied the QEII winner three times since QIPCO British Champions Day was inaugurated in 2011, most recently with The Revenant in 2020.

Both are still awaiting a first win at Group 1 level, but they have strong form at this level nevertheless, Big Rock having finished second three times, including to the brilliant Arc winner Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club, and Facteur Cheval having chased home Paddington in the Sussex Stakes.

Christopher Head, whose father Freddy won this with Charm Spirit and Solow, believes that soft ground is “a big plus” for Big Rock, who he points out has “only been beaten by very good horses” in his Group 1s.

Checkandchallenge, Epictetus and Rogue Millennium complete a field of 11.