Battling Nasheej puts down Classic marker
Richard Hannon’s youngster was always in touch with the pace set by Speciosa in the Group Two test before being moved up to challenge by Richard Hughes.
She took a while to get the better of the leader but stayed on to prove a length and a short head too good for High Heel Sneakers and Speciosa.
Nasheej has now won three of her four starts and Hannon said: “I suppose we’ll look at the Fillies’ Mile (at Newmarket on September 24) but failing that nothing more really - she’s done enough.
“We’ll have to think about entering her for the Guineas but I think her ideal trip will be a mile and a quarter. She looked tapped for a bit of foot there really.”
Hughes, who was deputising for the injured Pat Dobbs, said: “This is the first time I’ve ridden her in a race but I rode her in work and I liked her.
“She did it very well, she’s a little bit lazy and she got away with the ground - any firmer and she would probably be in trouble. She’s a decent filly who only does enough.”
Pure Illusion, the heavily-backed 6-5 favourite, ran too freely and dropped out to finish fifth.
Majestic Missile gained just reward for some sound efforts with a brilliant success under Jamie Spencer in the Earth Mortgages Scarbrough Stakes.
William Haggas’ four-year-old was a smart juvenile but had not won since his first season, although he indicated he was returning to his best when third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York three weeks ago.
And so it proved as the 13-8 favourite scooted clear in the five-furlong Listed contest to score by an easy three lengths from Texas Gold, with Celtic Mill a short head back in third.
Majestic Missile is 14-1 with Cashmans for the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp next month.
Majestic Missile could face a rematch with Texas Gold and Celtic Mill at Newbury according to their respective trainers, Willie Muir and David Barker.
Richard Fahey’s decision to run Anna Pavlova in the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons Ladies Day Stakes rather than the May Hill paid off, the filly recording a comfortable win.
Anna Pavlova, penalised 6lb for landing a competitive nursery at Newcastle last month, appeared unsuited by the steady early pace and was tapped for toe at one stage.
However, she picked up strongly for Paul Hanagan and, seeing the mile out well, the 7-1 shot came clear to beat Urban Tiger by a length.
The victory was a timely birthday present for Hanagan, 25, but he was banned for one day (September 19) for careless riding on the winner.
Eddie Ahern was suspended for two days (September 19 and 20) after being found guilty of careless riding on Suzy Bliss in the May Hill Stakes.
