Longchamp not Newmarket next for Zanzoun as John Gosden plays down 1,000 Guineas talk for impressive Nell Gwyn winner

Zanzoun gave Juddmonte their second win in a Classic trial within the space of three days when landing the feature Nell Gwyn Stakes on day one of the Craven meeting. But there is unlikely to be a dream return to the Rowley Mile for the winner next month as the only Guineas entry she holds is in France.

Remarkably, joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden took a gamble to run the 83-rated filly in this Group 3 rather than a handicap and it paid off in spades under their number-one rider Kieran Shoemark.

A winner on her third start at Southwell last backend, Zanzoun came through off a slow pace in the Dip before seeing off Celestial Orbit and Remaat with Arabian Dusk in fourth.

There were some disappointments in behind, not least fancied pair Verse Of Love and Nardra, who never figured. 

Shoemark said: "The race went great. She was a bit fresh early but travelled into it great and hit the front still on the bridle. She showed plenty of speed out of the Dip, handled the ground fine and I'm delighted for the team."

Paddy Power introduced Zanzoun into the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches market at 8-1, and John Gosden said: "Zanzoun was not overraced last year so has come here a relatively fresh filly. She won her maiden at the end of the season and we wanted to come here rather than a handicap and it's paid off. 

"She's got some bold black type now, which is important, and hopefully there is more to come. 

"There is a significant filly not running here today [Godolphin's ante-post 1,000 Guineas favourite Desert Flower] so we'll go to Paris and she can come to Newmarket."

Zanzoun (Kieran Shoemark) stretches clear to land the Nell GwynCredit: Edward Whitaker

Barry Mahon, racing manager to Juddmonte, said: "She's a nice filly who John and Thady have always liked, but she was a maiden winner coming into a Group 3 rated 80 something so it was a bit of a stretch.

"She showed some nice ability last year so it's not entirely surprising, and although she's not in the English Guineas she is in the French so we'll speak to the trainer and see where we go. 

"We still have Red Letter in the 1,000 Guineas and she is still in the mix and will work next week."

Ollie Sangster, trainer of runner-up Celestial Orbit, said: "We're delighted with that as she's been off a while. She should take another step forward from this and she's in the French and English Guineas so we'll make a plan."

Andrew Balding, trainer of third-placed Remaat, said: "We were pleased with that and we feel she'll be suited by an extra furlong. She'd been off a while and enjoyed the ground."

Last off the bridle at the Bushes was Arabian Dusk, whom Chris Wall, racing manager to owner Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa, said: "James Doyle thought she was going best at the Bushes but struggled up the hill. She'll probably drop back to six furlongs."

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