Music Show captures Nell Gwyn at Newmarket

Music Show won the Group 3, $100,000 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday, establishing herself as one of the favorites for the 1000 Guineas on May 2. Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the 6-1 Michael Channon-trained Noverre filly came wide from well behind to lead approaching the eighth pole and held off the persistent Blue Maiden by a half-length with Principal Role third. The time for the seven furlongs on good ground was 1:25.43.

The winner on Oct. 17 of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes over the same course and distance, Music Show had the neck runner-up that day, Atasari, back in eighth place on Wednesday, beaten 11 lengths as the 7-2 favorite. The Nell Gwyn was won by subsequent 1000 Guineas winners Pebbles and Oh So Sharp in the mid-'80s, but since then only Speciosa in 2006 has completed the double.

Michael Hills got away with a slow pace on the Barry Hills-trained Red Jazz in the listed European Free Handicap and went on to score a three-quarter-length victory over Quadrille in the $61,500, seven-furlong 2000 Guineas prep. An 11-2 Johannesburg colt, third to Arcano in the Group 3 July Stakes last year, Red Jazz was timed in 1:26.55.

Coordinated Cut and Jamie Spencer displayed remarkable courage to win the $385,000 Tattersalls Trophy. Bumped by Godolphin's drifting Ameer at the eighth pole, Coordinated Cut was forced to check and was soon two lengths behind, but the 9-1 Montjeu colt came again to defeat his nemesis by a head, getting the 1 1/4 miles in 2:06.81. Trained by Michael Bell, he is likely to go next in the Dante Stakes, the key prep for the Epsom Derby.

In the listed Feilden Stakes, the 7-2 Rumoush beat unlucky English Oaks favorite Timepiece into fourth while defeating Fighter Boy by 2 1/2 lengths. A Rahy half-sister to last year's 1000 Guineas winner, Ghanaati, the Marcus Tregoning trainee covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.98.