Having his first start in a handicap, the Qatar Racing Limited-owned BATTLE OF THE NILE (Havana Gold x Gertrud Versed) took the Cazoo Nursery Handicap at Wolverhampton on Wednesday, August 17th.
The two-year-old, trained by James Ferguson, had shown some promise on his three previous runs, including when only beaten three lengths on his most recent start at Kempton and was having his first run as a gelding here.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, BATTLE OF THE NILE was settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages of the six-furlong contest. A strong early pace was set by TINKERTSTAR (Fast Company) and BATTLE OF THE NILE travelled well for Murphy. On the turn for home, the eventual second SAGITTARIUS (Showcasing) took over and headed the field into the straight. BATTLE OF THE NILE was switched to the outside and once clear, closed down SAGITTARIUS inside the final furlong. He went on to win easily by a length at the line. SAGITTARIUS took second, with the strong-finishing BRO (Slade Power) a further head back in third.
Bred by the Gertrude Versed Partnership, BATTLE OF THE NILE is by Tweenhill’s Stud stallion HAVANA GOLD (Teofilo). He is out of GERTRUDE VERSED (Manduro), who was twice listed- placed and a winner over a mile and three furlongs.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club