'Her work has been good' - which trainer has their filly in fine form ahead of the Nell Gwyn Stakes?

Like all Classic trials the significance of the Nell Gwyn varies from year to year. Three seasons ago it gave us Cachet, who struck at Newmarket a few weeks later. The past two runnings, meanwhile, have failed to produce a top miler. 

Connections of Arabian Dusk will hope that changes. She comes out 7lb clear on adjusted Racing Post Ratings, but that is testament to her busy two-year-old season. Her direct rivals were not precocious enough to be granted the same opportunities. 

Arabian Dusk has form on both Newmarket courses, and signed off her juvenile campaign with a smart effort behind leading juvenile Lake Victoria in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Stamina is the query as 7f is new for this daughter of sprint sire Havana Grey. There is a concern on that front as, on peak RPRs, only one of Arabian Dusk’s six siblings peaked at a mile. 

Despite Arabian Dusk’s Group 1 exploits at two, once-raced Godolphin filly Verse Of Love heads the early betting. Prohibitive odds arguably owe more to her connections rather than the substance of her form.

Verse Of Love: impressive winner at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Verse Of Love was a five-length winner on her debut over course and distance in October and the time measured up well in relation to the Oh So Sharp Stakes later on the card. However, those drawn low appeared to be at an advantage and she may have been flattered. 

Cartwheel, Remaat and Zanzoun have progressive profiles and may continue that improvement as three-year-olds, but these fillies lack the same long-term appeal of Nardra.

A daughter of Guineas winner Night Of Thunder, Nardra wowed on her debut over 6f at Haydock last autumn and should handle an extra furlong with aplomb. Nardra’s dam ran in the Musidora and she is closely related to smart miler Make Me King. Her future is bright.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Trip should suit Arabian Dusk says Crisford

Arabian Dusk will attempt to provide Simon and Ed Crisford with another big success just three days after stablemate Choisya landed a Grade 1 at Keeneland. 

Choisya: winner of a Grade 1 at Keeneland

Unlike Choisya, Arabian Dusk is not fit from two wins in Dubai but has wintered well ahead of her first attempt over further than six furlongs. 

Arabian Dusk has previous experience of Newmarket's undulations due to her win in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the neighbouring July course last summer, while she ended her two-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Cheveley Park on the Rowley Mile in September. 

Joint-trainer Ed Crisford said: "Arabian Dusk has done well over the winter and has done what you would hope for from two to three. She looks like she’s strengthened up from last year and if she brings her form from last year she should be running a decent race. The are some unexposed fillies in there, but we expect the trip to suit her."

What they say

Tom Clover, trainer of Biniorella Bay
She finished just behind Saturday’s Fred Darling winner Duty First last year, which is encouraging. It looks a tough race, but she’s been training well and if she nicked third we’d be delighted.

Dylan Cunha, trainer of Cartwheel
She has a good chance. She improved over the winter and her work has been good. We don’t know where we are with regard to the opposition, but if she finished in the first three we would go for the Guineas.

Dylan Cunha: trainer of CartwheelCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Haggas, trainer of Nardra
She had a foot issue last week which ruled her out of Newbury, but she’s okay now. We need to know where we are with her, but her work has been good this spring. She won on soft ground at Haydock and that could be important to her, but we’ll find out more here.

Roger Varian, trainer of Qarlyga
She was in need of the run at Kempton first time and has moved forward from that. We're hoping for black type, but she wouldn't want too much rain.

Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, owner of Remaat
She had a knee problem after her win last year which is why she didn’t run again. Andrew Balding [trainer] has always loved her and we're hopeful of a place.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Zanzoun
Once these well-bred fillies have won their maiden there is little point running them in handicaps. She’s been pleasing at home and the target is some black type.
Reporting by David Milnes

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