Varian's Nezwaah fulfils promise with first Group 1 success

Roger Varian celebrated a second success in five years in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, and his third top level win in Ireland, with Nezwaah running out an impressive winner of the fillies and mares event under Andrea Atzeni.

Paddy Power shortened the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned four-year-old to 5-1 (from 12) for the Qatar Nassau Stakes on August 3 and 8-1 (from 25) for the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on August 25 following her three-and-a-quarter-length victory over Rain Goddess.

Betfair halved Nezwaah's price to 6-1 for the Group 1 event at Glorious Goodwood while BoyleSports go 5-1.

Varian, who won the Pretty Polly with Ambivalent in 2013, said: "I'm delighted Nezwaah now has a Group 1 to her name. No Group 1 is easy to win. She's a filly who always promised a lot. The ground drying out nicely was a help and we knew there would be no excuses.

"We learned today how good she is and I'm very grateful to Sheikh Ahmed for being so patient. He's been a great supporter of mine since I started training."

A dual Listed winner over this trip, Nezwaah, a 13-2 chance, was competing at the top level for the second time, having finished seventh in the EP Taylor Stakes in Canada in October.

Regarding plans for the daughter of Dubawi, Varian said: "She's very well entered up, and races such as the Nassau and the Beverly D will be considered. She might get a mile and a half but we might not need to ask her as there are plenty of top race over today's trip."

Atzeni said: “Nezwaah travelled beautifully into the race and picked up really well like a nice filly. She was very impressive.

“There’s loads of options for her now over here, Europe and America and she’s obviously a classy filly who is improving all the time.”

Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni celebrate after Nezwaah's victoryCredit: Patrick McCann

Atzeni was enjoying a third Group 1 win in Ireland. He rode the Varian-trained Cursory Glance to victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in 2014 and partnered Decorated Knight to victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup for Roger Charlton in May.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Rain Goddess ran her best race to finish runner-up on her second start in Group 1 company while Turret Rocks was a length and a half back in third and a head in front of fourth-home Zhukova.

O'Brien said: "Rain Goddess is a filly who's improving all the time and we're delighted how she ran today."

Dermot Weld said of Zhukova: "She ran very well and I was pleased with her performance on the ground, which was too fast for her. She really does appreciate a good cut."

The two other British-trained runners, Smart Call and Journey, failed to trouble the principals, finishing seventh and tenth respectively in the 11-runner event.

John Gosden, trainer of 15-8 favourite Journey and who was seeking a fourth win in the race, said:"She missed the break and was never really there with a chance."

Results and analysis