Newmarket: Barefoot Lady by a neck in Nell Gwyn

Barefoot Lady, a 14-1 outsider making her first start of 2011, caught 9-4 favorite Sing Softly in the final strides to win Wednesday’s Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, a prep race for the English 1000 Guineas on the same course on May 1.

Ridden by Paul Hanagan for trainer Richard Fahey, Barefoot Lady prevailed by a neck, finishing seven furlongs in 1:24.44.

Three fillies in the field of 11 led in the final 100 yards. Maqaasid, the winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot last June, led briefly before being overtaken by Sing Softly, who is trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Hanagan, racing closest to the stand’s side rail, timed his rally on Barefoot Lady perfectly to reach the wire in time. Sing Softly finished three-quarters of a length over Maqaasid, the 4-1 second choice.

Barefoot Lady, an Irish-bred filly by Footstepsinthesand, has won 3 of 5 starts and placed in the two losses, both stakes last fall.

British bookmakers were not too impressed with the result, leaving Barefoot Lady as high as 33-1 for the 1000 Guineas, for which she must be supplemented. Fahey indicated that owner Normal Steel would supplement Barefoot Lady to the 1000 Guineas.

Earlier on the card, Pausanias won the European Free Handicap over seven furlongs by a length over Rerouted, a Kentucky-bred colt by Stormy Atlantic. Ridden by Richard Hughes, Pausanias, sent off at 10-3, was timed in 1:24.06, winning his 2011 debut and third race from four starts. Utley, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs last fall, finished third.

Pausanias is trained by Richard Hannon, who later said the colt by Kyllachy would be pointed to the German 2000 Guineas.

In the Feilden Stakes for 3-year-olds, Dordogne, the 7-2 favorite, led throughout the race over 1 1/8 miles under Frankie Dettori to hold off Happy Today by a head. Dordogne, by Singspiel, could return in the Sandown Classic Trail on April 24, trainer Mark Johnston said.