Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador knows what it takes to win the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, having triumphed aboard Nashwa in 2022 – here she previews Thursday’s renewal on a stellar card at Goodwood.
Diamond to sparkle in Nassau
The highlight of day three at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.35) on Thursday, clearly looks at the mercy of the brilliant DIAMOND NECKLACE, who faces only four rivals in the fillies’ Group 1.
Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten daughter of St Mark’s Basilica is only marginally ahead of her key rivals Friendly Soul and See The Fire on official ratings but remains on an upward trajectory and gets that 9lb weight-for-age allowance.
A multiple Group 1 winner already, she proved herself over this ten-furlong trip in the French Oaks on the quickest ground she’s encountered and should have no issue with the forecast conditions on the Downs.
Soul the most likely to capitalise
Friendly Soul, who has so much back class, looks the most likely mare to capitalise if Diamond Necklace under-performs in the Nassau.
A Group 1 winner in her own right, John and Thady Gosden’s mare posted an eye-catching performance in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot on her first start after stepping into that hole at Haydock on her return from a lengthy absence.
Friendly Soul represents the Gosden team at Goodwood
Andrew Balding’s See The Fire looked good in the Middleton at York in May and went close to winning this two years ago but it’s worth noting that her losing run at the top level has now stretched to 13.
Hannon colt can Dash home in Richmond
I’ve been a big fan of CUT A DASH since his debut win at York and still want him on my side in the big two-year-old race of the day on Thursday, the Group 2 Markel Richmond Stakes (2.25).
Richard Hannon’s colt was only a length behind Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot – form that looks strong enough to overturn likely favourite Flann Sunna, who hasn’t beaten anything special in his two wins at Windsor and Ascot.
Cut A Dash
Sean Levey’s mount is better off at the weights with Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt, according to official ratings, and can take this en route to a probable tilt at the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes back at York next month.
I’d love to see Eve Johnson Houghton’s Night In Vegas go well, too. A course and distance winner in the spring, he finished on the heels of Cut A Dash in the Coventry so certainly has the credentials to run a big race.
Enceladus can stake Leger claims
Epsom Derby fourth Bay Of Brilliance lines up for the Group 3 Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes (3.00) on Thursday on a retrieval mission after flopping in the German equivalent, but the best form in the race belongs to him.
He has winning course form, too, which is an advantage in this traditional St Leger trial, but I prefer to side with Joseph O’Brien’s progressive colt ENCELADUS who can stake his own strong claims for the world’s oldest Classic.
His win in the King George V Stakes at the Royal Meeting has been franked by the runner-up Al Azd and I expect him to maintain his unbeaten record this year on his first foray into Pattern company over the same twelve-furlong trip.
Hoping Tom’s Decade can overcome wide draw
The draw hasn’t done DECADE OF TIME any favours but I still believe he can make his presence felt in the curtain-raising Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap (1.50) on Thursday.
My husband Tom (Marquand) faces a challenge from out in stall 14 on Jack Channon’s colt who didn’t do a lot wrong on his first try at this trip at Nottingham behind Heraldry, a horse I really rate highly.
Another interesting runner who also has a wide draw to overcome is Sean Woods’s Savvy Disko, who bolted up over a slightly shorter trip at Lingfield and can acquit himself well off a 9lb higher mark in this hotter race with Billy Loughnane in the saddle.
Penalty no negative for improving King
Richard Hannon and Sean Levey, who combine with Cut A Dash in the Richmond, also hold leading claims in the Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap (4.45) with SHADOW KING.
He must defy a penalty for his Doncaster win over a slightly shorter trip last week but 7f looks ideal and he is clearly open to enough improvement to take full advantage of a good low draw.
The Bookkeeper, trained by my old boss’s former stable jockey Richard Hughes, ran a nice race in the Woodcote at Epsom so this track should hold no fears. Ryan Moore is a strong booking for the son of Sioux Nation who is also well positioned.
I’ll be back with my thoughts on Friday’s card, featuring the big Group 2 sprint, the King George Qatar Stakes, and the Coral Golden Mile Handicap.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
