Nathaniel sired two new Stakes horses on Saturday 19th May with Sladina scoring in the Listed Premio Mario Incisa in Milan and Crystal Hope finished third in the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes at Newbury.

The three-year-old filly Sladina ran a dominant performance to land this reliable trial for the Italian Classic Oaks d’Italia for trainer A Botti and owner Luciano Salice.

Winning jockey Cristian Demuro said: “She is a very nice filly.  She has plenty of stamina and room for improvement.  She looked a bit around when she was in front, but I had no choice but to take the lead a bit earlier than expected.”

Sladina was bred by Highclere Stud and Floors Farming, and sold to Scuderia Rencati for 52,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.  Her dam Finchley (Machiavellian) is a half-sister to Stakes winners Birthstone and Songcraft out of Baya (Nureyev), a Gr.3 winner and was second in the Gr.1 Prix de Diane.

In the UK, Crystal Hope was following up her debut three-year-old win at Sandown and possibly found the going too quick at Newbury but still managed to gain black-type form finishing third in this Listed race for trainer Sir Micheal Stoute and owner Sir Evelyn de Rothschild. 

Both fillies look to be exciting prospects to follow for the rest of the season. 

Also at Newbury, the Newsells Park Stud bred Lightning Spear ran yet another top-class performance and agonisingly just missed out on the Group 1 win he so deserves, when beaten by just a short head in the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes into second place.  This dual winner of the Gr.2 Celebration Stakes was also second in this race last year.

It was indeed heartbreaking for all connections, including owner Qatar Racing and trainer David Simcock.

David Simcock said: “I’m very proud of the horse.  He was given a great ride by Oisin Murphy and we went at the same time as Rhododendron, but were just chinned.

“It’s one of those. I’m very proud of the horse, especially for a seven-year-old. We’re very fond of him in the stable because we know him so well and he’s a lovely horse to train.  He’s very straightforward and my wife rides him every day and the kids feed him apples; he’s that type of horse.

“I haven’t had the wind taken out of me for a long time, but that has.”