Sandiva© Photo Healy Racing
Sandiva laid down her Classic credentials in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.
The daughter of Footstepsinthesand was positioned in midfield under a confident Frankie Dettori ride and had too much class for Euro Charline and Godolphin's well-supported Majeyda when push came to shove.
The Richard Fahey-trained 7-2 favourite shaped as though she would be suited to the extra yardage in the fillies' Classic on May 4 as she stayed on well to hold the fast-finishing Euro Charline by half a length, claiming Group Three honours with Dettori performing a first flying dismount of the season in the winner's enclosure.
Dettori said: "Where she was drawn was a one- or two-length disadvantage and there was no cover, so it was a good performance. She is entitled to go to the Guineas with a good chance."
Fahey, who won the race in 2011 with Barefoot Lady, said: "Frankie is sure she will stay a mile and he spent half the race trying to switch her off and get her in."
Marco Botti's Euro Charline also looked like she would appreciate further than the seven-furlong trip and is another promising type for the future.
Barry Irwin, who runs the owning Team Valor syndicate, said: "She was finishing very fast and I am over the moon. Marco wants me to supplement her for the Guineas. I will think about it but she is also in the Irish Guineas, so we will see."
Charlie Appleby's Majeyda finished runner-up to fellow Godolphin representative Ithimal, impressive winner of the UAE 1000 Guineas and UAE Oaks, in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last season and her trainer has plenty of ground for optimism.
He said: "I was very happy with her performance and I would hope she will be suited to the step back up to a mile. We have got another filly in the Guineas but we will see how this filly comes out of the race first."
