Nashwa handed Prix Corrida target

Filly could make her seasonal bow at Saint-Cloud.

Nashwa is being prepared for a trip to France later this month after connections opted to sidestep the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Stakes at York on Thursday.

The dual Group One-winning filly has been slow to come to hand this term and will make a belated reappearance in the Prix Corrida, a Group Two contest over an extended 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud on May 28.

As a three-year-old she finished a close-up third in the Oaks, before gaining compensation in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Under regular rider Hollie Doyle, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of Frankel then earned a second top-class success in the Nassau at Goodwood.

She fell agonisingly short when beaten by Place Du Carrousel in the Prix de l’Opera at ParisLongchamp and had to settle for fourth behind Oaks victor Tuesday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland.

Owned by Imad Al Sagar, Nashwa holds Group One entries in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Pretty Polly at the Curragh and in the Eclipse.

However, Al Sagar’s racing manager, Lord Grimthorpe, explained much will depend on how she fares on her seasonal bow.

“She just hasn’t quite come,” he said. “She worked nicely on Saturday morning and I think we will probably try to head for the Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud at the end of the month.

“Obviously, that will give us a good guide as to where we’re at and if she looks good enough and is in good enough form, I’m sure Imad would like to go to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

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