NEWMARKET, England -- Over the last several months, the 3-year-old filly Azleet has been repeatedly schooled in the starting gate, an effort to eliminate occasional bad starts from 2025. There is more work to do in that regard, but there can be no criticism of Azleet’s ability once a race is underway. In Wednesday’s Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Newmarket Racecourse, Azleet overcame a tardy start, and traffic issues in the opening quarter-mile, to record a surprise win. Azleet closed steadily through the uphill finish to win by a neck over America Queen. The win put Azleet on schedule for the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at a mile at Newmarket on May 3. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Azleet, ridden by Marco Ghiani, paid $97 in American pools and was 50-1 with British bookmakers. America Queen (4-1) finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 7-2 favorite Act of Kindness, who cost approximately $4.8 million as a yearling in October 2024. The $126,600 Nell Gwyn proved to trainer Stuart Williams that Azleet deserves a start in the 1000 Guineas. Azleet “had a lot of work in her” at the gate, Williams said. Azleet, owned by David Noblett, has won 3 of 8 starts. She won a maiden race on the all-weather track at Southwell Racecourse last July, and a minor handicap for 2-year-olds at Newmarket last July Even Williams was delightfully surprised at Wednesday’s win. “She had a lot to find,” Williams said, referring to her 2-year-old form. Williams saw a glimpse of Azleet’s potential when she finished second after a troubled start in the Bosra Sham Fillies’ Stakes at six furlongs at Newmarket last October. “She missed the break by four lengths and she finished strongly,” Williams said of Azleet. “She didn’t get beat far.” Williams, 62, has more than 50 horses in training in Newmarket. He trains Quinault, a 6-year-old gelding who was third in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October and won the $404,000 Doha Sprint in Qatar in February. “Every couple of years, we find a good horse,” Williams said. The Nell Gwyn Stakes was one of two Group 3 races on a seven-race program at Newmarket. In the preceding race, Damysus won the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for older horses with such ease that trainer John Gosden is considering top-level races for the rapidly improving 4-year-old colt. Last of 18 in the Group 1 English Derby last June, Damysus has won his last three starts. On Wednesday, Gosden mentioned the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at a mile at Newbury on May 16 or the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot on June 17 as possibilities. In the Earl of Sefton Stakes, jockey James Doyle had Damysus fourth in a field of six for the first five furlongs. Damysus quickly reached contention with a quarter-mile remaining before drawing clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Damysus paid $4.80 in American pools and was 7-4 with British bookmakers. Wednesday’s race was the first for Damysus since a win in the Group 3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket last October. Damysus began his current winning streak with a two-length win in the Prix Nureyev Stakes for 3-year-olds at Deauville, France, last August. “He’s come out of winter quarters in good order,” Gosden said. The $93,450 Earl of Sefton Stakes was the fourth win in seven starts for Damysus, a colt by Frankel who is owned by Wathnan Racing. “He’s not a big horse, but he’s more powerful now,” Gosden said. “When he asked him to go, the acceleration was more instant. “He’s a more mature horse as a 4-year-old. I think anything from a mile to a mile and a quarter is what James felt will suit.” Damysus sustained a minor injury in the gate in the English Derby, Gosden said. In the first stakes of the day, Morshdi stalked the pace in a field of seven before edging clear to win the $79,900 Feilden Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles in his first start of the year. Ridden by Tom Marquand for trainer William Haggas, Morshdi ($29.60) finished a length in front of 7-5 favorite Poseidon’s Warrior, who closed well. “I’m surprised he won today because we can’t have a winner at the moment,” Haggas said. Haggas had one win from 20 runners from April 3 through Wednesday’s first race at Newmarket. Prior to Morshdi, Haggas had not had a winner since April 3. The Fielden Stakes may lead to a start in the $135,000 Dee Stakes at about 1 1/4 miles at Chester Racecourse on May 7. The race will be a stamina test for Morshdi, who is by Dubawi. “Tom felt like this was the right distance today,” Haggas said. Morshdi, owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, has won 2 of 3 starts. He ended his 2-year-old last year with a win in a one-mile maiden race at York in October. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.