Nell Gwyn Shock As Azleet Stars

Causing a 50-1 upset in Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, Azleet (Tasleet) dented some reputations and cast doubt on some 1,000 Guineas aspirations in the time-honoured trial.

Last seen finishing second in the six-furlong Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes here in October, the Stuart Williams-trained Dullingham Park Stud homebred missed the break under Marco Ghiani and was forced to race on the wing in rear throughout the early stages.

Making up ground stealthily as the leaders duelled in the centre, the winner who carries the silks of David Noblett edged ahead of the game America Queen (Havana Grey) a furlong out and stuck to her guns to prevail by a neck, with 1 1/2 lengths back to Godolphin's 3.7million gns purchase Act Of Kindness (Siyouni) in third.

“She has a nice attitude–she can sometimes be a bit moody, but she loved the track and really loved that watered ground,” Ghiani said. “I thought she would get the seven furlongs, but obviously she had been racing quite keenly last year. She settled fine today and was game, so the [1,000 Guineas] dream is still alive.”

This was the winner's first time beyond six furlongs and Williams is keen to go further for the big one. “We came here today to find out about her stamina and while she was probably a little bit fresh, she has come home strong,” he said. “We are keen to have a go at the 1,000 Guineas now. She is a high-class filly that has won her Group Three now, so why not have a go?”

“To be here on these days like this is great, as we don't get the chance to train these horses very often,” he added. “To have won that is good enough and to win at our home track is brilliant. We have been practising in the stalls at home with this filly, as she has been rearing up. We ponied her down to try and kept her quiet. It is a special time for me to potentially have a Group One runner at Newmarket.”

America Queen's was another sprinter stepping up in trip and trainer Richard Hughes is also keen to tackle a mile Classic, this time at ParisLongchamp. “I thought she got to the line well and she ran her heart out,” he said. “I'm glad, after watching that, that she's in the French one and not the English as it's a gruelling mile here. If they go slow, which they normally do in France, and she gets a good draw in one or two you would have a chance. She's done us proud and it's worth a go.”

Charlie Appleby said of Act Of Kindness, “I'm very pleased with her. I walked away thinking that is why we didn't put her in the Guineas. She is a nice filly, but she is not a Guineas filly yet. I think that will all come a bit too soon for her. She wants stepping up to a mile and she will definitely come forward for it as she has only just come to hand the last couple of weeks.”

“She could go for something like the [Listed] Michael Seeley, as she seemed to take all the prelims well enough and it would be an away day for her at York,” he added. “She is a nice filly and if we look after her, she will be a nice filly in the second half of the season.”

50/1!

Azleet denies American Queen in a big shock in the @Lanwades Nell Gwyn at @NewmarketRace @WilliamsStuart pic.twitter.com/R9WPPmThPt

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 15, 2026

Pedigree Notes
Azleet is currently the last known foal out of the sprint handicapper Azure Mist (Bahamian Bounty), a half to the dam of the multiple Group-placed Italian sprinter Madda's Force (Blu Air Force) from a Gerald Leigh family. The third dam Quest (The Minstrel), who was second in the Queen Mary, produced the Santa Barbara Handicap heroine Bequest (Sharpen Up) while the family also includes the dual Group 2 winner Opal Tiara (Thousand Words).