Crimplene Wins Vodafone Nassau Stakes

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Sheikh Marwan al Maktoum's homebred 3-year-old filly Crimplene earned her fourth consecutive win in a group stakes, winning the Vodafone Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) by 1 3/4 lengths over 4-year-old Ela Athena Saturday at Goodwood, England. The daughter of Lion Cavern completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.3 while running over good turf -- good to firm in places. The Clive Brittain trainee was sent off as the 7-4 favorite and was ridden by Philip Robinson. Princess Ellen finished third, and High Walden fourth in the seven-horse field.

Crimplene's four-race streak began in May with a four-length win in the Henkel-Rennen-80 German One Thousand Guineas (Ger-II). The chestnut filly then won the Entenmanns Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) later that month, before posting a 2 1/2 length victory in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot in June. Saturday's win improves her career mark to six wins from 13 career starts.

"There may have been a doubt about whether we were right to go a mile and a quarter," said Brittain. "But as I said before the race, when you've got an animal of class they can go any distance. It looked in the last 100 yards (as) if she was tying up, but she looked the same at Ascot."

Brittain is considering running Crimplene in a Breeders' Cup race. "Now she's proved she can go a mile and a quarter I'd have no qualms now about taking on the colts when the time comes," the trainer said. "I haven't discussed her next race with Sheikh Marwan. She may have maybe one prep before the Breeders' Cup."

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