Slowly does it with smart prospect Nahraan

A giant leap with the talented Nahraan is unlikely this season, with connections inclined to take a patient approach with the unbeaten son of Make Believe.

Out of a half-sister to owner Prince Faisal’s recent Prix Maurice de Gheest scorer Sajir, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt impressed in his first two outings before taking the step up to Listed level in his stride in the Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton.

He did have the option of following in the footsteps of the owner’s illustrious Mishriff in Deauville’s Prix Guillaume d’Ornano or York’s showpiece Juddmonte Stakes and while a trip to France was always favoured from those two, the Nahraan team have decided to keep their powder dry for the time being.

ParisLongchamp’s Prix du Prince d’Orange on September 14 – a race the Clarehaven team won with Ombudsman 12 months ago – could prove a suitable alternative, although Prince Faisal’s racing adviser Ted Voute stressed there will be no rush with the exciting prospect.

“There was no rain forecast at Deauville and John just felt he’s unbeaten so far, why risk him,” said Voute.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t go for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano with Charlie Appleby not running Ruling Court, the last chance to run against his own age and sex for decent prize-money.

“Oisin (Murphy) suggested the Prix du Prince d’Orange could be a nice alternative, but I haven’t spoken to John to see what he is thinking.

“He won’t be jumping up far and we won’t be doing something silly. We’re happy to take a patient approach and if that boils over into a four-year-old career before he tackles the big targets, then so be it.”

Prince Faisal also has a two-year-old on the rise housed with the Gosdens, with Frankel colt Oxagon holding plenty of significant entries for the latter stages of the season.

Not disgraced in a hot Newmarket maiden on debut, he then bolted up with a degree of ease when an eight-length scorer at Sandown, with Voute intrigued to see where his training team will head next.

“He’s got entries in all the right races, but John and Thady will decide where they want to go,” added Voute.

“In real terms we did have an apprentice on claiming in a class four last time, but he won like a good horse and his time was good and the style in which he did it was very good.

“We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground at this stage, but John and Thady may be showing their hand a little bit with the entries which suggests they see something they like, so it will be exciting to see which race they choose.”