Nebras has the G3 Midnite Winter Derby at Lingfield Park firmly in his sights following a gutsy success over the course and distance in the Listed Midnite Quebec Stakes.
The half-brother to Nashwa had the lowest rating of the five runners but was open to improvement on the back of a gelding operation and recent handicap success at Newcastle.
Sent to the front by Oisin Murphy, the duo set steady fractions before winding it up on the home turn. Tyrrhenian Sea laid down a strong challenge in the straight as Nebras dug in along the rail, with Murphy’s mount repelling the 13/8 favourite by a short-head.
Nebras will look to continue the strong record of John & Thady Gosden in the Midnite Winter Derby, with the stable having won four of the last seven editions of the February highlight.
Murphy said: “That was a nice performance from Nebras to beat a course specialist in Tyrrhenian Sea, in what I felt was quite a good race.
“Nebras was so straightforward today. He broke well and did not waste any energy. He struggled a bit on the track turning into the straight, but it was a falsely run race and turned into a sprint. I thought he did well.
“That would be a career-best from Nebras by some way. Thady phoned me beforehand and said the horse had never been better, so hopefully he can kick on now, potentially over a bit further.”
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Imad Alsagar, said: “That was a pleasing performance from Nebras to beat some solid yardsticks, especially the runner-up who has a very good record here.
“We have always had a good opinion of the horse and the gelding operation has clearly benefitted him. Although he only won narrowly at Newcastle in a handicap, we hoped he would step forward again.
“This would be his best performance to date, so fingers crossed he can kick on in 2026. The Winter Derby looks the obvious next step, while Oisin said he could get 12 furlongs, which will be something to consider later on.”
Elsewhere over the festive period, Southwell staged an informative card on New Year’s Day, with Pocklington and Blue RC emerging as leading players for the Sprint and Mile finals.
Pocklington was rewarded for a string of consistent efforts as he landed an ultra-competitive six-furlong handicap, a race in which improving four-year-olds Lakers and Coul Angel caught the eye in behind. Trained by Geoff Oldroyd, Pocklington has been raised 3lb to 99 and needs one more run to qualify for Finals Day.
Blue RC also has a revised rating of 99 after comfortably justifying odds-on favouritism in the other class two handicap on the card. The son of Blue Point was second on his two other appearances this season and trainer James Tate has indicated that he may not run again before Good Friday.
Over in France, West Wind Blows paid a compliment to Shader as he landed the Listed Prix Arcangues at Deauville, the second leg of the middle distance Polytrack Challenge. A dual G1 runner-up in Australia for Simon & Ed Crisford, West Wind Blows finished nine lengths behind the Juddmonte runner in the Listed Unibet Floodlit Stakes at Kempton Park in November.
There were two notable newcomer performances, with Wiliam Haggas’ Extremely Zain scoring by seven lengths at Newcastle and the John & Thady Gosden-trained Guildmaster dominating his rivals at Lingfield Park. Both horses could take in another novice before stepping up in class.
