Nannina claims Fillies' spoils
Nannina just got the better of Alexandrova to claim a thrilling renewal of the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
The John Gosden-trained youngster was racing neck and neck with her rival in the final furlong but the 5-1 shot dug deepest to prevail by a short head.
Nasheej, the 5-2 favourite, was a further three lengths back in third.
Jimmy Fortune settled Nannina towards the back of the field as Nasheej and Cross Channel cut out the early pace.
The latter started to feel the pace around three furlongs out as Kieren Fallon manoeuvred the Aidan O’Brien-trained Alexandrova to sit upsides the hard-ridden Nasheej.
Fallon looked to have launched a winning move when he kicked on two furlongs out, but Fortune was just getting Nannina into full stride coming into the final furlong.
Although Nannina got her head in front, Alexandrova fought gamely on meeting the rising ground and pushed the winner all the way to the line.
Gosden, who claimed the race last year with Playful Act, told BBC Sport: “There was a proper pace, a real test of a mile. Kieren had Jimmy in the box and was holding him in there with legitimate race-riding and he had to wait for him (Fallon) to go.
“When he went, Jimmy said he wasn’t going to try and wriggle through in case he shut the door on him again, so he went round and it was a very wise decision.
“He had the whole last furlong up the hill to go at and she’s a very game and tough filly.
“She’s got up and beat a very good filly with the May Hill winner in third, so it’s good form.
“She’s very much a Guineas filly.”
Ladbrokes go 16-1 from 33s about Nannina for the 1000 Guineas, while Alexandrova is 20-1 from 25s for the mile Classic.
The O’Brien filly is the 14-1 joint-favourite for the Oaks along with stablemate Chenchikova and Fallon expects her to be more of an Epsom type.
He said: “She ran well. I just went a stride too soon on her and I thought I had Jimmy cooked.
“She’s an Oaks filly in the making. She will stay and she’s well balanced.”
O’Brien added: “That was great. She ran a blinder. She would possibly be a Guineas filly, but more Oaks I would imagine – she is bred to stay.
“She probably won’t run again this season.”
