No Nay Nicki

There was a lot to like about the manner in which No Nay Nicki kept on to take second place behind Adaay In Asia in the seven-furlong fillies’ handicap that concluded proceedings at York on Thursday. Drawn widest of all, 14 of 14, she was slowly away and she was awkward on leaving the stalls, so she was always playing catch-up. She moved up into mid-division on the outside as they rounded the home turn, and she moved up into a share of third place as they straightened up for home, but she came under pressure shortly thereafter. It looked like she was going to be swallowed up by the pack as they passed the three-furlong pole, but she responded well to pressure and she stayed on grittily on the near side to get the better of Sound Of Iona for second place behind Adaay In Asia. The first three were nicely ahead of their rivals and the race was run in a good time.

Richard Fahey’s filly was a big price here, but she went into the race in good form, on the back of a good performance at Doncaster in July in finishing second in a 0-85 handicap. She shaped here as if she could improve for a step back up to a mile. She has been beaten in both of her attempts to date over that trip, but they were in a higher grade, in the Listed Michael Seely Stakes and in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot, so she is worth another try at that distance. She is bred to get at least a mile. She has raced just seven times in her life, and there could be more to come.
York, 18^th August 2022