Azleet has earned a place in the Betfred 1000 Guineas after pulling off a stunning upset in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. The three‑year‑old, trained by Stuart Williams, had only managed two wins from seven starts as a juvenile and had previously struggled when stepped up to Listed and Group level.
Consequently, she entered the Nell Gwyn as a 50‑to‑1 outsider, largely ignored by punters and analysts alike. During the seven‑furlong race, Marco Ghiani settled Azleet at the back of a twelve‑horse field.
As the field turned into the final three furlongs, she began to make progress, finding a better rhythm as the ground rose. In the last half‑furlong she clashed with America Queen, and after a hard‑fought battle she edged clear to win by a neck, with Act Of Kindness a length and a half back in third. Williams was ecstatic after the finish. "We’ll go there and roll the dice in the 1000 Guineas – it will be special for me to have a Group One runner at Newmarket.
We came here to see if we were good enough to take the entry, and we got our answer," he said. He added that Azleet had shown considerable improvement, noting that in her last race of the previous year she had missed the start by four lengths and then struggled through the field, yet still finished strongly and was only narrowly beaten by the talented filly Spicy Marg. "Marco gave her a brilliant ride, keeping her at the rear before letting her find her stride.
She got a little keen at the halfway point but came home strong. She’s a high‑class filly who has already won a Group Three, so why not give the Guineas a go?" Williams also highlighted the difficulty of finding a horse of Azleet’s quality for a modest‑sized stable. "It’s rare for a yard of our size and budget to locate a talent like this.
We’re lucky to have two promising fillies at the moment – Azleet and Quinault – and it’s exciting," he explained. He emphasized his philosophy of getting the best out of every horse he trains and said that competing for a Classic on home soil is a dream come true. The runner‑up, America Queen, trained by Richard Hughes, will take a different route.
After finishing second in the Lowther Stakes and fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes last season, she is slated to travel to France for a shot at the French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp. Hughes praised his filly’s tenacity, saying, "She did it the hard way – the winner sat last while we were out in front into a headwind.
There was no hiding place, but she stayed the distance, battled back and was up front all the way. I’d love to roll the dice on the French Guineas if she gets a good draw." Charlie Appleby, whose filly Act Of Kindness finished third, suggested a more modest target for her later in the season, perhaps a Listed race at York such as the Michael Seely Stakes.
"She’s a nice filly but not a Guineas type. Stepping up to a mile now could suit her, and I think she’ll improve in the second half of the season," Appleby said. The card also featured Damysus, a son of Frankel, who confirmed his resurgence with a dominant victory in the Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes.
After a disappointing Derby run at Epsom last summer, the colt collected wins at Listed level in France and the Group Three Darley Stakes, proving his potential. Carrying a three‑pound penalty for his recent Group win, Damysus was the 7‑4 favourite for trainer John Gosden and partner Thady Gosden.
James Doyle rode him out of the dip, and the colt accelerated sharply to win by three and three‑quarter lengths, with King’s Gambit finishing second. Gosden believes Damysus will continue to improve as a four‑year‑old and could be aimed at longer distances. He hinted at a possible clash with stablemate Ombudsman at Royal Ascot and even mentioned the Prix d’Ispahan or the Prince of Wales’s Stakes as future targets. "He’s more powerful now, and anything from a mile to a mile and a quarter looks right for him," Gosden said.
Morshdi, trained by William Haggas, announced himself as a Derby prospect after winning the Betway Feilden Stakes. The three‑year‑old had previously broken his duck at York in October and entered the Feilden as a 14‑to‑1 outsider. Tom Marquand rode him patiently, allowing the colt to settle before making a decisive move on the uphill finish, holding off the favourite Poseidon's Warrior by a length. Haggas praised the colt’s temperament, calling him "a lovely little horse" and noting that the win earned Morshdi a reduction in his Derby odds from 50‑to‑1 to 25‑to‑1.
He is now being considered for a stop‑over at Chester before a potential run in the Epsom Derby on June 6. Overall, the Nell Gwyn Stakes delivered a rich tapestry of stories: a 50‑to‑1 outsider earning a Classic shot, a seasoned filly eyeing a French adventure, a promising colt returning to form, and a Derby hopeful emerging from a modest win. The upcoming 1000 Guineas at Newmarket promises to be a thrilling contest, with Azleet poised to test herself against the nation’s best fillies, while her rivals plot alternative routes to Classic glory.