Pretty Crystal wins Nell Gwyn, prep for 1000 Guineas

CHELTENHAM, England -- Pretty Crystal was no better than second in four consecutive Group 3 races for 2-year-old fillies from June to September in Britain last year.

The storyline has started on a much brighter note this year.

On Wednesday at Newmarket, Pretty Crystal rallied through the final quarter-mile to win her first stakes in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

Ridden by Oisin Orr for trainer Richard Fahey, Pretty Crystal (who paid $41.40 in American pools) held off a late run from 3-5 Dance Sequence, who ran erratically through the final furlong of the straightaway race. Pretty Crystal won by a neck against nine rivals.

The $105,900 Nell Gwyn Stakes is a key prep for the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at a mile at Newmarket on May 5. Pretty Crystal, by Dubawi, has won 2 of 6 starts.

Ottoman Fleet, the winner of the Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park last May, won Wednesday’s Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes for older horses at Newmarket for the second consecutive year.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Sent off favored, Ottoman Fleet stalked the early pace in the race at 1 1/8 miles and won by a length over 6-1 Astro King in a field of nine.

Owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby, Ottoman Fleet has won 5 of 16 starts. The $105,900 Earl of Sefton Stakes was Ottoman Fleet’s first win since the Fort Marcy. He was third in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park last June.

Appleby, who plans to have a small stable on the East Coast this summer, said Ottoman Fleet is a candidate for the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at the Belmont at Saratoga meeting on June 8.

Earlier on Wednesday at Newmarket, Jayarebe ($26.40) led throughout his 2024 debut in the listed Feilden Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles, his second win in three starts for trainer Brian Meehan.

Jayarebe was ridden by Sean Levey in the $65,700 Feilden.

A French-bred colt by Zoffany, Jayarebe was seventh of 10 in the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere at seven furlongs at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris in October in his final start of 2023.

Cheltenham

The French-bred gelding In Excelsis Deo ended a seven-race losing streak since December 2022 with an attractive win in Wednesday’s $87,200 Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse, Britain’s leading jump race of the day.

Ridden by Jonathan Burke, In Excelsis Deo ($7.20) closed from off the pace in a field of 12 to win the Silver Trip at 2 5/16 miles by 4 3/4 lengths over 38-1 Hang In There. In Excelsis Deo was favored in a field of 12.

In Excelsis Deo is trained by Harry Fry for J.P. McManus, whose I Am Maximus won the famous Grand National at Aintree Racecourse last Saturday.

“Johnny gave him a lovely ride,” Fry said of Wednesday’s win. “We were delighted to get a win this season.”

In Excelsis Deo was a troubled fifth in a handicap chase at 2 5/16 miles at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival last month, the track’s leading week of racing.

In Excelsis Deo has won 3 of 12 starts in a career that began in France in late 2021.

Veteran jockey Paddy Brennan won a handicap steeplechase aboard Manofthepeople ($20.80) at 3 1/4 miles later at Cheltenham on Wednesday and promptly announced his retirement in the winner's circle.

Brennan, who turned 43 on Saturday, is best known for winning the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Imperial Commander.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.