Azleet has earned a place in the Betfred 1000 Guineas following a spectacular 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 last season and had previously faltered when stepped up to Listed and Group level. Consequently, she entered the trial as a little‑known 50‑1 outsider, but she defied expectations and clinched the race, putting herself on the agenda for the season’s first fillies’ Classic. During the seven‑furlong contest, Marco Ghiani kept Azleet at the back of a twelve‑horse field, allowing her to settle and conserve energy.
As the race entered the final three furlongs, she began to make her move, finding her rhythm on the rising ground. 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 a length and a half back in third place. Williams was ecstatic after the win.
“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,” he said. He explained that Azleet had shown significant improvement since her last race as a two‑year‑old, when she missed the start by four lengths and then struggled through the field. “She finished strongly and wasn’t beaten far by Spicy Marg, a very good filly,” Williams added. “Marco gave her a brilliant ride, settling her at the rear before she hit the front.
She got a little keen at the halfway point but came home strong. She’s a high‑class filly who has already taken a Group Three, so why not try the Guineas?” Williams also highlighted the rarity of finding a horse of Azleet’s calibre for a small operation. “It’s difficult for a yard of our size and spending power to locate talent like this. We’re lucky 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 win, we’ll give it everything we’ve got. To be here, on home soil, with a chance at a big race is brilliant.” The runner‑up, America Queen, trained by Richard Hughes, will head to France a week later for a shot at the French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp. Hughes praised his filly’s tenacity, noting that she had to battle against a headwind and could not find a place to hide.
“She stayed the seven furlongs well, fought back and was up front all the way,” he said. “If the French Guineas is run at a slower pace and she draws well, I would love to roll the dice there. She’s a pleasure to train – not flashy, but she gives everything.” Act Of Kindness, who finished third, may be aimed at a Listed race at York, according to Charlie Appleby.
He felt the filly was not yet ready for the Guineas but could step up to a mile later in the season. “She’s a nice filly, but not a Guineas filly at this stage,” Appleby explained. “A mile race such as the Michael Seely at York could suit her. If we look after her, she could be a solid performer in the second half of the campaign.” The article also turned its attention to Damysus, a son of Frankel who is beginning to fulfil his potential after a dominant win in the Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes.
Although the Derby at Epsom proved beyond his reach last summer, Damysus has since captured a Listed victory in France and a Group Three at Haydock, confirming his status as a colt with genuine Group‑level ability. Carrying a three‑pound penalty for his recent Group win, he was the 7‑4 favourite in the Sefton and, under James Doyle, accelerated away from the field to win by three and three‑quarter lengths, with King’s Gambit taking second. John Gosden praised the colt’s development, saying, “He’s more powerful now and the acceleration was instant when James asked.
He’s mature as a four‑year‑old and a mile to a mile‑and‑a‑quarter is likely his optimum distance. We’ll look at a Group Two next and then consider Group One targets.” Gosden hinted at a possible run in the Lockinge Stakes but suggested a longer trip might suit Damysus better, perhaps culminating in a clash with stablemate Ombudsman at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Morshdi, trained by William Haggas, announced himself as a Derby contender after winning the Betway Feilden Stakes.
The three‑year‑old, a 14‑1 outsider, produced a strong finish to hold 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 came over a testing nine‑furlong distance. He indicated that Morshdi’s odds for the Betfred Derby have shortened to 25‑1 and that a stepping‑stone race at Chester, such as the Dee Stakes, could be on the agenda before a possible Epsom appearance. Overall, the weekend’s racing action delivered several surprise performances and highlighted emerging talent across the British and Irish flat‑racing scene.
Azleet’s unexpected triumph not only secured her a Guineas entry but also underscored the depth of quality that can emerge from smaller training yards. With the Classic season now in full swing, connections will be watching closely to see whether these promising horses can translate their trial form into success on the sport’s biggest stages.