Zanzoun put herself in the Classic equation with a stylish display in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Dubawi finished behind some smart rivals on her first two outings before breaking her duck impressively at Southwell in November.
Owned by Juddmonte, she was sent off at 9-1 for this renowned Group Three and was ridden confidently in the early stages by Kieran Shoemark.
As the race developed, Zanzoun moved effortlessly to the head of affairs before galloping on powerfully to register a taking one-and-three-quarter-length success over Ollie Sangster's Celestial Orbit, another to finish strongly from off the pace.
Andrew Balding’s Remaat claimed third, but Charlie Appleby’s favourite Verse Of Love was amongst those to finish well held further down the field.
John Gosden said: "I think she’d be fine on good ground, she just wouldn’t want it rattling firm.
"She handled the ground today, she’s a nice filly who has not been overraced and she’s trained well this spring.
"She could do that (go for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), that could well be the case. I’ll talk to the family and see what they want to do. There is a very good Aga Khan filly we saw the other day in the Prix de la Grotte (Zarigana), but it’s lovely to win here and we’ve got nice plans to make."
Zanzoun shows a striking turn of foot to capture the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) April 15, 2025
Kieran Shoemark | John & Thady Gosden pic.twitter.com/O2JZ2qMCcy
Persica was a convincing winner of the bet365 Earl of Sefton Stakes to set up a possible Lockinge Stakes bid.
Richard Hannon's 3-1 chance was ridden by Ryan Moore in a small field for the Group Three, which featured two horses from Charlie Appleby’s yard and two from James Owen’s.
The globetrotting Ottoman Fleet and last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly were the 2-1 joint-favourites, with the latter making the running after his stablemate Lavender Hill Mob failed to keep pace with him in the early stages.
But it was Persica who took up the lead with two furlongs remaining and was eventually an easy victor, with two and a half lengths in hand of the Appleby-trained Ottoman Fleet.
Hannon said: "He’s a very good horse with a high cruising speed. We wanted to take him to Saudi but that didn’t work out, so we stayed for the mile and three Winter Derby and he got there very well and didn’t get the trip.
"If it turns up soft ground, I wouldn’t mind taking a chance with him (in the Lockinge). A fast-run race would suit him perfectly.
"He is improving and there’s been a lot of interest to buy him, but these horses are hard to make and take a long time to make.
"It was very soft ground when he ran in the Champion Stakes last year and a mile and a quarter on that ground just stretches him at the very top level, but I’ve no doubt he’ll get to the top level."
Andrew Balding's fine start to the new Flat turf season continued as Almeric made a taking impression in the bet365 Feilden Stakes.
Fresh from a four-timer at Newbury on Saturday, the Kingsclere handler wasted little time making his mark in racing’s heartland with this Listed success.
Sent off the 11-4 favourite, Oisin Murphy was always travelling well as he tracked the pace set by the Tom Marquand-ridden Green Storm and as the petrol tank began to flicker for Charlie Johnston’s front-runner, it was Almeric and Richard Hannon’s King Of Cities who were in prime position to take charge.
That duo pulled clear of the remainder in the closing stages, and after a tussle to the winning post, it was the son of Study Of Man who pulled out the required extra to be in command by a length at the line.
There was a stewards’ inquiry into the late battle but the placings remained unaltered, while Nightwalker galloped on to finish third on his first start for John and Thady Gosden.
Balding said: "He’s a smart horse and we were pretty hopeful going into today. He seems to be at home on slow ground and it’s great for Miss Rausing as he’s obviously a homebred and a lovely horse going forward.
"Oisin said he was just getting tired at the end as they went very hard and he was probably running on fumes a little bit, just because it was a searching gallop and it was his first run of the year.
"He’s got a French Derby entry I think and certainly an Irish Derby entry and a German Derby entry. We’re delighted to win today and we’ll just have to see how things pan out.
"I think the likelihood is we’ll look at York (Dante) and France would be the preferred option, I think."
