3 minute read
Arguably one of the best races of the week, the Group 1 Nassau Stakes is the headline event on Thursday of Glorious Goodwood.
Connections of the French-trained Blue Rose Cen were keen to take on the best of the British in the 1m2f Group 1 Nassau Stakes (3:35) and the exciting three-year-old edges favouritism over last year's winner Nashwa. Blue Rose Cen was campaigned throughout her juvenile season with Classic targets in mind, winning the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on 'Arc' Day – a race that has produced numerous Poule d'Essai heroines.
An easy winner of the traditional Guineas trial, the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte, Blue Rose Cen was ridden with confidence by jockey Aurelian Lemaitre in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). She drew clear in the closing stages to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths and produced a very similar performance in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), this time scoring by four lengths ahead of Aidan O'Brien's Never Ending Story.
Stamina will not be a problem for the Christopher Head-trained filly – the French Oaks is run over 1m2½f – and she is proven on heavy ground, should the conditions turn wet following a dismal Tuesday forecast.
The best of the UK challengers, Nashwa, bounced back to winning ways with an impressive five length success in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival. It is interesting to note that the four-year-old has a very similar profile to Blue Rose Cen, having won the Group 1 Prix de Diane before scoring an easy victory in this race twelve months ago.
Thunderstorms and high winds are expected at Goodwood on Wednesday and any softening of the ground would probably be a negative for Nashwa, despite her second in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera in October on very soft ground.
A brief word is required for 9/1 shot Al Husn, who is probably not getting the credit she deserves for beating Nashwa in the Group 3 Hopping Fillies' Stakes. The Roger Varian-trained filly is going from strength to strength and the form of her Newcastle win puts her firmly in the mix.
WIN: BLUE ROSE CEN
A competitive field line up for the 1m4f Group 3 Gordon Stakes (3:00), a race which has produced future Group 1 winners such as Highland Reel, Crystal Ocean and Ulysses. Although Aidan O'Brien's Listed Lenebane Stakes victor Espionage heads the betting, there is plenty to like about Godolphin's Chesspiece. The colt has been tried over a variety of different distances this season, finishing third in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and winning the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton Park subsequently. A son of Nathaniel, he may prove best over twelve furlongs and the Simon and Ed Crisford team are in good form.
WIN: CHESSPIECE
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 - PERFUSE
RACE 2 – VANDEEK
RACE 3 – CHESSPIECE
RACE 4 – BLUE ROSE CEN
RACE 5 – BITS AND BOBS
RACE 6 – ISLE OF JURA
RACE 7 – GET JIGGY WITH IT
RACE 8 – JM JUNGLE
