Katie Scott looking back to York with Naana’s Shadow

York’s Ebor Festival is the likely next port of call for Katie Scott’s sprinting revelation Naana’s Shadow.

The three-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks since she was bought for 20,000 guineas after former trainer Alice Haynes decided to give up her licence in November, claiming success at Catterick, Epsom, York and Goodwood in seven starts for Scott.

Naana’s Shadow’s victory on the Sussex Downs caught the eye once more, but Scott is keen for the sprinter to remain against her own age in a lucrative handicap on the Knavesmire later this month before stepping up in class.

“She’s perfect after Goodwood, we stayed down at Goodwood on Thursday night and travelled back on Friday. She’s had a few days off, but there’s not been a bother on her so very good,” Scott said.

“I think Plan A at the minute is the three-year-old handicap at York on the Wednesday of the Ebor Festival. If for some reason we wanted to give her another couple of weeks, there is a Listed race at Cork at the end of the month.

“I think the reason why the York race appeals to me at the minute is it’s her last chance to run against her age group and before she has to take on older ones.

“She did go up 8lb for winning at Goodwood – I think that’s fair, the way she won she deserves that – and because it’s a higher race at York, she isn’t actually going to carry any more weight in it. There’s just the potential that there’s better horses in there. She’s won there and she was third there for us as well.

“But if we decide we want to give her an extra week or two then she will probably head to Cork.”

Scott has big plans for the Havana Grey filly should she pass her next test, with Group targets in France on the agenda.

“The plan after York, there is a Group Three at Longchamp (Prix du Petit Couvert) and then we’d like to take her to the Prix de l’Abbaye to be honest if it keeps going the way it’s going,” the Scottish Borders handler added.

“I just think it’s a sharp five there and she obviously won on the soft at Epsom so she handles any sort of ground.

“It can throw up a different sort of winner at the Abbaye sometimes, it’s been a good hunting ground for the British in the past and it can throw up a skewwhiff winner – a horse not a massive, big yard. So at the minute, that is on the radar.”