FORMER champion apprentice David Egan could be on the verge of riding his first classic winner after partnering Qabala to an impressive success in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on Tuesday.

The Roger Varian-trained filly is the new favourite for next month’s 1000 Guineas after she justified strong market support to beat her stablemate Mot Juste in the Group 3 trial.

Mot Juste brought group-winning form to the table, but in the minutes before the race, her stable companion Qabala was backed from 13/2 into 100/30 favouritism.

The 20-year-old Egan was content to bury his mount in the middle of the field as Orchid Star took them along, with Mot Juste well placed to challenge.

When Mot Juste hit the front coming out of the dip, Qabala still had plenty of ground to make up, but she displayed an electric turn of foot to burst through and win by a length and three-quarters on just her second start.

Mot Juste was another three-quarters of a length in front of John Gosden’s Angel’s Hideaway, who came from last into third.

Qabala is now clear favourite for the Guineas with some firms at around 5/1, though she is available at 7/1 with others.

Varian said: “I was very impressed. She came in inexperienced only having the one start. She has worked well and she worked well last year before she ran and won. We have high hopes for her.

“When you come off the back of one run and go into a competitive race like this, you are never quite sure. I was delighted how she switched off and she quickened really well.

“They are two nice fillies. Mot Juste ran a great race. She was ridden a bit more forward, travelled strongly and went there to win her race. She got a bit tired up the hill and got a second wind.

“I think Qabala had a lovely passage through and came into the picture a bit later. They are different types of fillies. They move differently and behave differently.

“Qabala would be more flashy in her homework, but they don’t work together. They both deserve – given health and soundness – to possibly come back for a crack at the Guineas.

“Qabala has not come in her coat yet and I nearly didn’t run her. She had been trained for the race to trial today and bar having a long coat, I have been happy with her work and she has got a healthy look to her. There wasn’t a reason not to come except she hadn’t come in her coat.

!I hope race will bring her on and I think she will look different in her appearance next time she races. We thought the maiden form was strong at the time and we liked her before that maiden, so we went into the winter thinking she was a nice one.”

GOSDEN WINNER

Kick On had to dig deep to claim the second win of his career as he gamely held off Walkinthesand to win the nine-furlong Feilden Stakes.

John Gosden’s colt won a maiden at Newmarket that worked out extremely well before stepping up to Group 1 company at Doncaster, where he finished sixth behind Magna Grecia in the Futurity Trophy.

Representing the connections who enjoyed such success last year with Roaring Lion, Oisin Murphy seemed keen to grab the rail and was able to dictate matters on the 2/1 shot.

With Aidan O’Brien’s Western Australia a disappointing fifth and Kadar under pressure from some way out, it was left to Richard Hannon’s lightly-raced Walkinthesand to throw down a challenge. Having his third start, the runner-up came out of the race with plenty of credit, but went down by a neck.

Gosden said: “In the Group 1 at Doncaster over a mile he finished out nicely. I wanted to run him here and it was a good performance. The jockey is talking about the French 2000 Guineas and we will possibly look at that with him.”

Hannon was more than satisfied with Walkinthesand’s effort, but feels he could now excel over middle distances.

He said: “He obviously need a trip now and he has got a few nice entries. I’m delighted with him and he has run a super race. We will see where we go from here. He is in the Dante and French Derby and things like that. He was just a bit out on his own and it appears today you want to be next to that rail.

“When he has worked, he has always not worked the best of the group. He has always worked like he wants a trip and a lot of good horses do that. He keeps finding a bit.”

GOOD START CONTINUES

Shine So Bright continued Andrew Balding’s good start to the season when making all the running to win the European Free Handicap.

Placed in such races as the Richmond Stakes, Gimcrack and Mill Reef last term, he was sent off at 5/2 to begin his season with a win.

Silvestre de Sousa was able to dominate after grabbing the rail early and racing into the dip, Shine So Bright took four lengths out of the field. Space Traveller closed to within a length and three-quarters, but the result was never in doubt.

Balding said: “They always looked a nice bunch of horses last year and they are all working well. Things are falling into place and I’m really pleased with that.

“He is a really solid horse. He was a bit unlucky in the Gimcrack and the ground went against him in the Mill Reef. He is a very handy horse.

“The big question mark would be whether he stays a mile. He has got a Guineas entry and it is a possibility, but it would be a question mark whether he gets the extra furlong.

“Silvestre was undecided (over getting the mile). He was non-committal. We have probably got nothing to lose by trying. We might have a look at it, but there is still plenty of time to make decisions.

“He could be a Jersey Stakes horse, or dropping back a furlong on a stiff track wouldn’t bother me, so he could go for a Commonwealth Cup. He has got plenty of options.”

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