Tag Archive for: Teddy Grimthorpe

Nashwa could make return to the track in the autumn

Imad Al Sagar’s star mare Nashwa is closing in on a possible autumn return to the racecourse.

The five-year-old is owned and was bred by Al Sagar’s Blue Diamond Stud and has flown the flag for the operation at the highest level over the past few seasons.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden in Newmarket, as a three-year-old Nashwa was third in the Oaks before being stepped down in trip to win the Prix de Diane and the Nassau Stakes ahead of valiant placings in the Prix de l’Opera and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

As a four-year-old she won only once when taking the Falmouth Stakes, but the campaign was still highly successful as she ran superb races against the colts in both the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes to finish second and third respectively.

Earlier this year she was aimed at the Dubai Turf at Meydan’s key March meeting, where she was ninth of 16 starters when competing at Group One level over a mile and a furlong.

Nashwa has not run since but has remained in training with the Gosdens and has been faring well in her work following a quiet spell after her journey to the Middle East.

“She’s in good form, she’s cantering and she’s progressing,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Al Sagar.

“It took her longer to get over Dubai than we expected, we gave her the time and gave her a little break.

“She’s always been at John’s, she’s just beginning to move forward a little bit now.

“There’s no immediate target, we’ll just have to wait and see how she does, but she’s in good form and she seems very happy at the moment.

“We’ll look at a mile and at 10 furlongs, that would probably include the Opera or Sun Chariot as possible targets, but the main thing is that we’ve got to see how she is – she might be ready earlier or she might need a little bit more time.

“She hasn’t done any serious work, when that starts up we’ll see how she is and take it from there.”



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York and Newbury under consideration for Nashwa next

The Middleton Stakes at York and the Lockinge at Newbury are among the races likely to come under consideration for Nashwa following her creditable comeback run in Dubai last weekend.

John and Thady Gosden’s filly has struck gold three times in Group One company, landing the French Oaks and the Nassau Stakes in 2022 before adding the Falmouth Stakes to her CV last summer.

She was also placed against the colts in both the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes last season and headed for the Middle East to make her five-year-old debut on Dubai World Cup night.

Drawn widest of all at Meydan in stall 16, Nashwa managed to get into a prominent early position in the Dubai Turf and was not beaten far in the end – and connections are taking the positives out of her performance.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Imad Alsagar, said: “Her chance was certainly compromised by the draw, but it is what it is. She’s run a super race and got a great ride and everything pretty much went to plan.

“She just had to use herself up a little too much, but she was beaten just over four lengths, so overall we were very encouraged really.

“We’d hope she’ll improve, as she did last season. She’s due back tomorrow and we’ll see how she is, but I think we’ll probably look at the mile, mile and a quarter races.”

Nashwa is entered in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York on May 16 and the Al Shaqab Lockinge at Newbury two days later. The daughter of Frankel appears likely to contest one or the other on her next appearance.

“Of course, it depends how she comes out of the race. She recovered fine, but we’ll see how she takes the trip home etc, and then we’ll make a plan,” Grimthorpe added

“She’s in the Middleton and the Lockinge and I think those would be the most likely potential targets.”



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Nashwa in ‘great shape’ ahead of Irish Champion challenge

Nashwa is set to throw her hat into the ring for next weekend’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes following a pleasing workout in Newmarket on Saturday morning.

Having secured her third Group One victory with a dominant performance in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July, John and Thady Gosden’s filly has since finished third in the Nassau at Goodwood and second in the Juddmonte International at York.

She now looks set to take on the boys once more at Leopardstown, with dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin and King Edward VII Stakes winner and King George third King Of Steel among her potential rivals.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “We are positive, she did a nice little bit with Hollie solo on the Limekilns yesterday morning and everyone’s very happy.

“It seems the right spot to go for. She’s come out of York very well and Imad’s excited about going to Leopardstown next weekend.

“She’s in great shape and we’re looking forward to it.”



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