Son Of No Nay Never Wins Group 2 In Good Style

A step up in trip saw Never So Brave (4g No Nay Never – Chica Wopa, by Oasis Dream) produce a career-best effort to win Saturday’s Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot.

The Saeed Suhail-owned bay progressed to a high rating with Sir Michael Stoute before joining Andrew Balding this season and made his second start for the stable a winning one at Royal Ascot.

Sent off second favourite under David Probert, the No Nay Never gelding raced towards the back of the field and began to make headway with over two furlongs left to race. Asked to chase down the clear leader a furlong and a half out, he ran on well to lead inside the final 110 yards and went on to score by three parts of a length.

The winning rider reported: “Jamie [Spencer] slipped us and was 10 lengths ahead turning into the straight. Luckily, I had a real reliable companion underneath me and Never So Brave filled me with confidence. He quickened so well and even a furlong and a half out, I felt I'd go away and win.

“I've never really ridden a horse who has quickened so well from the furlong and a half to the line. He's an exciting horse. To ride such a good winner like this is a privilege.”

The performance saw Never So Brave shorten to 4/1 for the Lennox Stakes, which remains a possible target, according to his trainer. “He's very good and I'm thrilled with his progression,” Balding commented. “We put him in the Lennox but he's versatile in terms of trip from six furlongs to a mile. I don't know where he goes, this opens up a few options as he showed he gets a mile.”

The son of No Nay Never was bred by COP Hanbury and sold for 240,000gns as a yearling. His half-sister by Wootton Bassett sold for 420,000gns last year.