The G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes was the feature race on the card on the second day of Newmarket’s Craven meeting and leading sire Dubawi looks to have at least two live chances in the first fillies’ Classic of the year as his daughters Pretty Crystal and Dance Sequence battled it out in the seven-furlong contest.
Neither raced far from the pace initially and the Richard Fahey-trained Pretty Crystal was asked to quicken a furlong from home, with the filly responding brilliantly to take the lead in the closing stages. Godolphin filly Dance Sequence found herself somewhat short of room but once she had a clear run, kept on well and was beaten by a neck.
This was the first victory at Stakes level for Pretty Crystal, although she was second in last year’s G3 Princess Margaret Stakes. Her trainer indicated after the race that connections will now consider supplementing her for next month’s 1,000 Guineas, where she is likely to face Dance Sequence once again.
Pretty Crystal was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock and is the first foal to race out of the multiple Group winner Pretty Baby (Orpen).
She becomes the second Group winner in less than a week for Dubawi, following Master Of The Seas’ brilliant victory in last Friday’s G1 Maker’s Mile at Keeneland. Dubawi is also sire of this year’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero Rebel’s Romance.
