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Owen Burrows’ Nakheel galloped on strongly to see off a late challenge from Night Sparkle in the Group 2 Betfred Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

The unexposed three-year-old has been progressing nicely through Pattern races this season, finishing four lengths behind the reopposing Scenic in the Listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting last time. 

With today’s assignment requiring another step forward, Owen Burrows’ filly was sent off a 10/1 chance on her first outing in group company. However, armed with first-time cheekpieces over this longer trip, Nakheel found plenty of improvement to see off the strong-travelling Night Sparkle, who looked to be coming with a winning run under Oisin Murphy, by a length and a half crossing the line. 

Aidan O'Brien’s Grateful looked to be going best with three furlongs to travel, but the 11/4 market leader failed to match the finishing kick of the front pair and eventually finished a further three lengths behind in third. 

Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, winning rider Jim Crowley said: “I had a lovely trip, we were well drawn, and we never left the rail the whole way round.”

“She ran a nice race last time at York and I said to Owen after that maybe some cheekpieces or headgear would help me out, just because she was off the bridle for a long way. She travelled much kinder today though.”

It was the first time Nakheel was stepping beyond a mile and a half, something Crowley felt was vital for her success.

“That was a big plus (the step up in trip),” he added. “The ground being on the slow side, with the headgear, those three things meant everything came to fruition.”

“She’s only three and I still think there’s plenty more to come from her.”