Azleet has punched her ticket to the Betfred 1000 Guineas following an unexpected triumph in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes. The three‑year‑old, trained by Stuart Williams, had only managed two wins from seven starts as a juvenile last season and had previously fallen short when tested at Listed and Group level. Consequently, she entered the Nell Gwyn as a 50‑1 outsider, largely overlooked by punters and analysts alike.
Yet she defied the odds and emerged victorious, earning a coveted place in the first fillies' Classic of the year. During the seven‑furlong race, Marco Ghiani settled Azleet at the back of a twelve‑horse field.
As the pace unfolded, she began to make her move inside the final three furlongs, finding a better rhythm as the ground rose. In the closing half‑furlong she engaged in a tight duel with America Queen and ultimately edged her out by a neck, with Act Of Kindness finishing a length and a half behind in third place. Williams was elated, saying, "We’ll go there and roll the dice in the 1000 Guineas – it will be a special moment for me to have a Group One runner at Newmarket. We came here to test whether we were good enough to take the entry and we got our answer." He added that Azleet had shown significant improvement since her last run, noting that she missed the start by four lengths in her previous race but still finished strongly.
"Marco gave her a brilliant ride, settling her at the back before she surged forward. She’s a high‑class filly with a Group Three win under her belt, so why not give the Guineas a go?" Williams also highlighted the rarity of finding a horse of Azleet's calibre at a yard of their size, stating, "It’s difficult for a yard with our resources to locate talent like this. We’re fortunate to have two promising fillies at the moment – Azleet and Quinault – and it’s exciting." He continued, "I pride myself on getting the best out of every horse I train. When there’s a race to be won, we’ll fight for it.
To have a chance at a major home‑soil race is brilliant." The runner‑up, America Queen, trained by Richard Hughes, will head to France a week later to contest the French Guineas at Longchamp. Hughes praised his filly, saying, "She did it the hard way – the winner sat last while we were out front into a headwind.
There was no hiding place, yet she stayed the seven furlongs well, battled back and led the field all the way. She’ll go for the French Guineas; if the pace is slow and she draws well, I’d love to roll the dice there.
She’s a pleasure to train – not flashy, but she tries hard and that’s all you can ask for." Charlie Appleby, whose Act Of Kindness finished a length and a half behind Azleet, hinted that his filly may target a Listed race at York later in the season. "She’s a nice filly but not a Guineas type; she’s still developing. A mile at York, perhaps in the Michael Seely, could suit her. If we look after her, she could be a solid performer in the second half of the year," Appleby said.
The news also touched on other notable horses. Damysus, a son of Frankel, impressed with a dominant win in the Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes after a mixed Derby run at Epsom last summer.
Trainer John Gosden believes the four‑year‑old is now stronger and could be aimed at longer Group races, possibly meeting stablemate Ombudsman at Royal Ascot. Gosden remarked, "He’s more mature, powerful, and could handle a mile to a mile and a quarter.
A Prix d’Ispahan or the Prince of Wales’s Stakes would not be out of the question." Morshdi, trained by William Haggas, announced himself as a Derby contender after a victory in the Betway Feilden Stakes. The three‑year‑old, a 14‑1 shot, held off the market favourite Poseidon's Warrior to win by a length. Haggas praised the colt, noting his resilience in tough wind conditions and his suitability for the Dee Stakes at Chester as a stepping stone toward the Epsom Derby. Overall, the Nell Gwyn Stakes delivered a whirlwind of stories, from Azleet’s fairy‑tale upset to the strategic plans for other emerging talents.
The race not only reshaped the betting landscape for the upcoming 1000 Guineas but also set the stage for a busy spring campaign across the UK and France, with trainers mapping out targets from Listed events at York to Group One contests at Royal Ascot and beyond. The excitement generated by these performances underscores the depth of the current generation of three‑year‑olds and promises a thrilling classic season ahead.