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Nazeef lands Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket
The John Gosden-trained Nazeef (4 f ex Handassa by Dubawi) prevailed in a close finish to win the Falmouth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket on Friday and in the process became the 19th Group 1 winner for Invincible Spirit (Green Desert).
Only beaten once in her career - when finishing third on debut as a three-year-old, Nazeef came into the contest having landed the Snowdrop Stakes (Listed, 1m) and Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) at Royal Ascot and she continued in that rich vein of form when beating dual Group 1 winner Billesdon Book (Champ Elysees) by a neck. Nazeef’s more fancied stablemate Terebellum (Sea The Stars) finished another neck away in third.
Winning jockey Jim Crowley said: "She's tough as nails and keeps improving with every run. She has a great will to win. She was caught a little flat footed but she stayed on really well."
Meanwhile, Thady Gosden, assistant to his father, said: "She's very gutsy and has had three quick runs on the bounce. She's always had ability and class and she just thrives on her racing."
Bred by Shadwell Estate Company Limited, the filly is the only winner of Listed winner Handassa (Dubawi) who is herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Desert Stone (Fastnet Rock) and Group 3 winner Eugenio (Fastnet Rock)
The filly’s third dam is Star (Most Welcome) - the dam of Group 1-winning duo Pastoral Pursuits (Bahamian Bounty) and Goodricke (Bahamian Bounty).
Further back, this is the family of Group 3 winner Superstrike (Superlative) and Listed-winning pair Four-Legged Friend (Aragon) and Sweet Lilly (Tobougg).
Invincible Spirit stood at the Irish National Stud for a fee of €100,000 this year and he is represented in Australia by his sire sons, leading sire I Am Invincible, Cable Bay, National Defense, Shalaa, Territories, Shalaa, while Magna Grecia and Royal Meeting, who will stand their first seasons in 2020 at Coolmore Stud and Aquis Farm respectively.
Nazeef lands her first Group 1 success in a terrific @Tattersalls1766 Falmouth Stakes under @JimCrowley1978 for @JohnGosden1 pic.twitter.com/hp9HhcidVr
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 10, 2020
