Pershaada Draws Clear to Win Molecomb Stakes

Richard Hannon is plotting a bold Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) bid for Pershaada (IRE) after the filly advertised her group 1 credentials with a dominant victory in the Molecomb Stakes (G3) July 29 at Goodwood Racecourse. The daughter of Persian Force (IRE) produced a career-best effort when finishing fourth at 33-1 in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot and landed her first black-type success here under regular rider Sean Levey. The 2-year-old showed a smart turn of foot to quicken from the middle of the pack a furlong from home and reel in Adonius (IRE), whom she beat by 2 lengths to justify 11-4 favoritism. The Molecomb Stakes was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 30 at Keeneland. Owned by Middleham Park Racing, the 88,000-guinea purchase could now try her luck in the Nunthorpe Stakes Aug. 21 at York Racecourse against older rivals. Connections would need to pay a £40,000 supplementary fee by Aug. 15 if Pershaada is to line up at York in just over three weeks' time. Hannon said: "She's been working very nicely and I don't like to sound too arrogant, but she's won really well. "She's extremely fast and there's a good chance we might look at the Nunthorpe after this. She looks like she's quick enough for that. She seems to win with a lot of authority, so with the weight allowance off the older horses, she'd have a great chance." William Hill go 10-1 about Pershaada for the Nunthorpe, its market headed by the Wesley Ward-trained Bacio at 4-1.