Three-year-old filly Nathra was strongly fancied to make a successful seasonal debut in the G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes and the daughter of Iffraaj certainly didn’t disappoint as she swept to the finish to win the seven-furlong contest in convincing style.
Settled in midfield under Frankie Dettori, Nathra took the lead with two furlongs left to run and once she met the rising ground, soon moved clear to win the seven-furlong contest by a length and a half and in a manner which suggests a return to a mile will be well suited to this talented filly.
Nathra, who is trained by John Gosden, won on her debut last September before running out a seven-length winner at Newbury next time out. She rounded off her two-year-old campaign with a second place in the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Her victory today has earned her quotes of around 7-1 to take the 1,000 Guineas on 1 May.
Nathra was bred by Pier House Stud and is out of the Danehill mare Rada, herself a full sister to G1-winning juvenile Dick Whittington and a half-sister to G1 winner and Champion sprinter Owington.
Iffraaj has now sired ten individual Black type performers so far this year, including G1 winner Turn Me Loose. Last year, Nathra was one of no fewer than 32 runners to win or place at Black type level. He stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £22,500, October 1st SLF.
