By Tom Frary
Long considered a class act in the making by Roger Varian, Nezwaah proved that categorically when powering to an emphatic success here. First coming to prominence when taking the Listed Hoppings S. with authority at Newcastle last June, she flopped when last of five behind La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in Deauville's G2 Prix de la Nonette in August before finishing a half-length second to So Mi Dar(GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in receipt of four pounds in the Listed John Musker Fillies' S. at Yarmouth the following month. Blowing the start in the GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine in October, the bay was still beaten around two lengths when seventh there and was set for a return in Newmarket's G3 Dahlia S. only to break out of the stalls and be withdrawn from that May 7 nine-furlong contest. Taken to Ayr for a confidence-restoring easy success in the Listed Rothesay S. over this trip May 24, the homebred had received another boost on Friday as last year's Hoppings S. runner-up More Mischief (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) had come back to win that race.
Racing in mid-division against the rail early under Andrea Atzeni as Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) provided the pace in customary fashion, she was travelling with real purpose in behind Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) as that rival was sent to the front with a quarter mile remaining. Sent up to brush aside the Man o'War heroine with just over a furlong remaining, she stretched clear as the Ballydoyle 3-year-old Rain Goddess stayed on from rear. Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), last year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine, proved a disappointment as the 15-8 favourite and beat only Creggs Pipes home. “She was very impressive,” Atzeni said. “She was a little bit slowly into her stride, but travelled beautifully and picked up like a very nice filly. Two days ago we didn't know if she was going to run or not because of the weather, but Roger felt the ground was going to be fine for her and she's proved him right.”
For Varian, the result was confirmation of his belief in Nezwaah's ability and he said, “She's always promised a lot. We would have been a bit worried if the ground had been on the soft side, but it dried out nicely for her. I think there were four previous group one winners in the race. You could probably name a small handful of very good fillies that aren't here, but still it was a good race on paper and none of these group ones are easy to win. It's a thrill to win one and a great thrill to get this filly winning at the top level because we've always loved her. She's got all the big entries and we thought how we ran today would perhaps determine where we went. Maybe she's justified staying in Europe and taking her to Goodwood for the [G1] Nassau [S. at Goodwood Aug. 3].” Aidan O'Brien said of the runner-up, “She ran a really big race under topweight [in the Listed Sandringham S.] at Royal Ascot, but we were not sure about a mile and a quarter. Ryan put her to sleep and she came home well, so there is plenty of hope for her.” Nezwaah is the first foal out of the Listed Pinnacle S. winner Ferdoos, who is a half to the Italian highweight Brusco (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and who also has a 2-year-old filly by Shamardal named Monteja (GB) and a yearling full-sister to the winner.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
PRETTY POLLY S.-G1, €225,000, CUR, 7-2, 3yo/up, f, 10fT, 2:06.19, gd.
1–@&NEZWAAH (GB), 134, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Ferdoos (GB) (SW-Eng), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Blaze of Colour (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Hawait Al Barr (GB), by Green Desert
O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-Andrea Atzeni. €132,750. Lifetime Record: MSW-Eng, 9-5-1-1, $267,355. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rain Goddess (Ire), 124, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Where (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Where Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €45,000.
3–Turret Rocks (Ire), 134, f, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Beyond Compare (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mrs June Judd; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €22,500.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1HF, HD. Odds: 6.50, 6.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Zhukova (Ire), Laganore (Ire), Intricately (Ire), Smart Call (Saf), Santa Monica (GB), Pocketfullofdreams (Fr), Journey (GB), Creggs Pipes (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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