Nabah

Nabah appeared unlucky in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, at least unlucky not to get a good deal closer to the front three. She was a 22/1 shot but she travelled really well in behind the front seven or so, but she had absolutely no racing room when the favourite I Love Me quickened it up a couple of furlongs out. Tom Queally had to switch her first right, then left before having to sit and suffer a while and then switch her right again to get any daylight. In the meantime the front three had flown, but Nabah did pick up nicely once in the clear to take fourth place.

This was a highly promising effort from a filly so inexperienced – this was just her second start, having made her debut only five days earlier on the Polytrack at Kempton. She was discounted in the betting that day at 33/1 and did well to finish fourth. She had clearly come on a fair deal for that experience as she travelled much better at Newmarket than she had done at Kempton before finding all that trouble.

She now looks like a steal at only 11,500gns as a foal, her dam was a Listed winner over a mile as a two-year-old. She clearly has more pace than her pedigree would suggest; she is bred to get middle distances next year and may well do so. She is in all likelihood much better than she was able to show in the Rockfel, and she could continue to be under-rated hailing from the Clive Brittain yard. She could be a very interesting filly for next season.

16th October 2010

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