Nell Gwyn Stakes victory for Zanzoun

Zanzoun emerged front and centre in the Gr.3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket yesterday to provide another Classic prospect for Juddmonte.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 16th April 2025, by Tom Frary:

Always travelling strongly under the patient tactics employed by Kieran Shoemark, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 9-1 shot rolled down the hill and to the fore before outstaying Celestial Orbit for a one and three-quarter length success. Remaat was a further half a length away in third.

"She enjoyed the ground, settled early which was pleasing and travelled very well," John Gosden said of the Southwell maiden winner, whose dam Franconia (Frankel) was a Listed winner for the same stable.

"She likes to get her toe in, so we'll always be looking for this kind of ground for her. Her mother was a nice filly who stayed a mile and a quarter, but I think a mile is going to be this one's limit. I think she's more one for France [for the Gr.1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches] than the 1,000 Guineas."

Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon backed up that sentiment as he reflected on the winner, who had raced too freely on her second start when third over a mile at Yarmouth before opening her account at Southwell last term: "She's a filly we thought a lot of last year, so it's not entirely a surprise and it's a good result."

She's not in the Guineas, but she is in the French Guineas, so we'll speak to the trainer and the owner and see what they'd like to do. Red Letter is still a possible for the Guineas here. She's got a few more bits of work to do, but she's still on the list and we'll firm it up in the next week I'd say."