Nakheel poised for Pall Mall glory
Unbeaten as juvenile, connections were talking about Nakheel as a possible 2000 Guineas candidate but injury put paid to those plans and a trip to Newmarket was firmly on the back-burner.
Mark Johnston’s promising colt was not seen at the track again until September this year where he finished fifth behind some useful performers in a Group Three event at York.
With that run under his belt, better things were expected over a mile at Goodwood last time.
And he did not disappoint when finishing only half a length behind Group Two winner Imperial Stride.
The bare result does not tell the whole story, however, as the son of Sadler’s Wells found his way blocked when about to make his move and did remarkably well to finish as close as he did considering he was forced five horses wide in the closing stages.
Open to lots of improvement and likely to appreciate the step up in distance, a return to winning ways is expected.
La Presse can bounce back to her best in the Highclere EBF Fillies’ Stakes.
Barry Hills’ filly has improved with every run so far, winning her maiden at York in August before finishing a highly-credible third behind Group Three winner Princess Iris at Ayr.
But it was her latest effort that really took the eye as she helped set the pace in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes over this course and distance – only to tire inside the final furlong and finish fourth behind Indian Ink. She faces a much easier task here.
