Bated Breath's First Instinct takes the Group 3 World Trophy

Finding the combination of five furlongs and easier ground in her favour on Saturday, Dunchurch Lodge Stud's homebred First Instinct (Bated Breath) raised her game to record a personal best in Newbury's G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 21st September 2025, by Tom Frary:

Returning to her spring form when taking Cork's Listed Polonia Stakes and finishing third in Haydock's Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes, the 11-1 shot was generous for Tom Marquand leading her small stand's-side group before collaring Shagraan late on for a neck success.

"She's had a couple of starts this year where she's probably not been the quickest out and I was conscious that over the five here against a few speedy ones she would have to be," Marquand said of the William Haggas-trained filly, whose 2024 Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning stablemate Montassib put in a highly encouraging comeback effort two lengths further behind in third on his first outing of the season.

"I gave her a kick out the gate and within three strides she was up and rocking, which actually took me by surprise. She's tough and fast and appreciated that little bit of dig in the ground. She knuckled down well the final 100 yards, as she always does, and she's a fantastic filly to deal with. She's small in stature, but has a heart of a lion. We're all probably guilty of underestimating smaller types, just because they are not imposing physically but there have been some really good small sprinters and she is one of them."