SHEA Shea (3-1 favourite) recorded another Gr 1 second place in the UK in Friday’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m at York, going down half-a length to shock winner Jwala (40-1).
Jwala, a daughter of Oasis Dream, travelled superbly throughout as her stablemate Spirit Quartz set the early pace before the filly hit the front inside the final furlong.
Shea Shea (no 6), tried hard under Frankie Dettori but could not reel in the shock winner, Jwala (16).
Shea Shea and the strong finishing Sole Power chased Jwala in the final stages of the race but made no real impression on the eventual winner with Shea Shea grabbing second by a nose from the Edward Lynam-trained Sole Power.
Mike de Kock said of Shea Shea: “He has run well and he has held his form. There is never much between him and Sole Power.
“I think the rain made the difference, that’s what Frankie Dettori said, he said he was battling to get out of it and really quicken with the turn of foot he does have so maybe that just took the edge off him a bit. But it is not an excuse, he has run second and run well.
“He will probably go for the Abbaye and then have a bit of a break. The time frame is good and it is also a fast track but it can get soft.”
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Jwala’s trainer Robert Cowell. “She is a grand filly who has come on leaps and bounds. “She fractured her eye socket last time out and she’s come back in fine style.”
In a remarkable turn of events, Moviesta, who won the King George in which Jwala finished last at Glorious Goodwood last time out, finished dead last himself and his trainer admitted something wasn’t right.
Jwala’s shock Nunthorpe success is the third upset in four years with Margot Did taking the spoils at 20-1 in 2011 with Sole Power winning in 2010 at a massive 100-1. – extracts from Racing Post, photo credits Getty Images (main) and racingpost (body).
1 Comment
well done Shea Shea, Tellytrack has seen you as 3rd,
2nd is even better, we r proud of you, that first Gr1 win will come