Lilac Road

Lilac Road remains interesting after her run to finish third behind Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last Thursday. Settled back in the field early on by Tom Marquand, she travelled well into the home straight, but she got a little out-paced when they quickened at the three-furlong marker. As well as that, she shipped a bump from Rogue Millennium to her outside when her rider wanted to move to the outside to ask her for her effort. In the end, she had to follow Nashwa’s run on the outside and, while she couldn’t match the winner for pace, she did keep on well once she got going, getting up to take third place, running on at the finish.

A listed race winner as a three-year-old, William Haggas’ horse has progressed this season as a four-year-old. She was good when she sprang a mile surprise in winning the Middleton Stakes at York on her previous run, and this run was a nice step forward from that. Out of Lavender Lane, who finished third in the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret over a mile and a half, it could be worth stepping her up to a mile and a half now, she shaped her as if she would appreciate a step up in trip, and it is interesting that her astute trainer has entered her in the Yorkshire Oaks and in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over that distance.
Goodwood, 28^th July 2022