The Nassau Stakes is the feature race on day three of the Glorious Goodwood festival. This Group 1 is open to fillies and mares who are aged three years old or older and is run over one mile and two furlongs. The younger runners (3yo) get an 8lb allowance over their older counterparts, running off just 8-13 whilst the older runners have to carry 9-7.
The leading trainer in the Nassau Stakes over the last 20 renewals is Aiden O’Brien who has won the race 4 times. Those 4 winners came from Peeping Fawn (2007), Halfway To Heaven (2008), Minding (2016) & Winter (2017). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Nassau Stakes are John Gosden (3 wins) & Sir Michael Stoute (2 wins).
There are multiple leading jockeys in the Nassau Stakes over the last 20 renewals with all of Ryan Moore, William Buick & Tom Queally having all won the race 3 times. Ryan Moore winners have been with Minding (2016), Winter (2017) & Fancy Blue (2020). William Buick winners have been with Winsili (2013), Sultanina (2014) & Wild Illusion (2018). Tom Queally winners have been with Midday (2009), Midday (2010) & Midday (2011).
Let’s take a look at some of the main individuals who are engaged in the race at this point and who the betting markets consider to be leading contenders with the best horseracing odds from those still engaged.
Above The Curve
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Was sent off as a second favourite for the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on her most recent start and had a couple of these in behind. Whilst she has three lengths to make up on Via Sistina, she does have the beating of the likes of Rosscarbery, Goldana and Never Ending Story. Whilst she is proven at Group 2 level, she has yet to fully convince that she is capable of landing a Group 1 race such as this. She may well have to settle for minor honours once more.
Al Husn
Trainer: Roger Varian
Has progressed in the style of a good filly as she has moved from handicaps to listed races and now is proven at Group 3 level. She got the better of the re-opposing Nashwa last time out and the form of that race has been well advertised by the runner-up subsequently. It’s not impossible to think that she could repeat the feat here and record a hat-trick of wins as it has been a long hard season for many. Foolish to rule out completely and a big run can be expected especially if the ground were to soften.
Ameynah
Trainer: Roger Varian
She ran a massive race when last seen out in the 1000 Guineas last season as she finished sixth to Cachet, but she has not been seen on a racetrack since. There have to be serious doubts about her having the stamina for this, especially after such a long lay-off. The form of that last run has worked out well but this is a monumental task for what will be her first run back since. She is best watched should she line up.
Goldana
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Has plenty to find with a couple of these including Via Sistina and Rosscarbery. She has only had three runs for Joseph O’Brien, but she looks to be very much the stable second string here. She is capable at Group 3 level but has yet to show any sign of a hint that she is ready to take a race such as this. She looks to have far too much on her plate and is best avoided.
Nashwa
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
This daughter of Frankel has been slow to come to the boil this season but has finally regained the winning thread. Having bumped into the re-opposing Al Husn at Newcastle following a disappointing seasonal reappearance at Saint-Cloud in the Prix Corrida, she made the most of dropping back to a mile next time to beat Remarquee by five lengths. She may now have finally got back to her best but she will need to be in order to give weight away to some talented opposition.
Rosscarbery
Trainer: Paddy Twomey
Has been tried at this level a couple of times now and has generally acquitted herself well. She has a bit to find with Via Sistina and Above The Curve based on their recent clashes at The Curragh in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She should run her race once more and would come further into the equation should the heavens open and she gets her coveted soft ground. Not a forlorn hope.
Via Sistina
Trainer: George Boughey
Found the step back to a mile very much against her when finding a resurgent Nashwa too strong. A Group 1 winner in her own right, she will appreciate this return to the longer distance of a mile-and-a-quarter. Provided that the race doesn’t come too soon, she could very well be in the thick of the action once more. Five wins in eleven starts means she certainly knows where the winning post is and she has to be considered a threat to all.
Araminta
Trainer: Henry Candy
A three-year-old filly who certainly appears to be going places. Three wins from four career starts mean she is a seriously talented filly. She will appreciate the weight that she gets from her older rivals and is certainly learning with each and every race. She was given a short break prior to heading over to Chantilly just the other day and it clearly did the trick as she pulled away from her rivals under Gerrard Mosse. She still has plenty to prove coming into this though and it could be a year too soon.
Blue Rose Cen
Trainer: Christopher Head
Found the first time step up to this trip with no bother when landing the Prix De Diane at Longchamp back in June. That was her fifth consecutive victory and her third Group 1 in her last four starts. Any softening in the ground would certainly be in her favour and her rivals may not see which way she went. She conclusively beat the likes of Never Ending Story and Novakai last time and should confirm that form once more. A major player here and a big threat to all.
Caernarfon
Trainer: Jack Channon
She has found life tough this term and has yet to win in 2023. She made the leap from handicaps to Group 3 level last year with a minimum of fuss. She looks to have severe stamina doubts and may well appreciate a step back to a mile. There will be races to be won with her in time but she also needs a significant drop in grade. This looks beyond her and she is passed over.
Jackie Oh
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
A lightly raced filly who would need a miracle to be considered here. She won on her debut over a mile at Naas when beating stablemate Red Riding Hood. Since then she has been beaten in a listed race and has looked completely out of her depth at Royal Ascot last month in the Sandringham Stakes. This race looks a step too far and is likely to finish closer to the rear of the field than the front of it.
Never Ending Story
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Has clearly gone off the boil since finishing second to the re-opposing Blue Rose Cen in the Prix De Diane at Longchamp back in June. She has been beaten a total of twenty-three lengths in her last two races at this level and you would have to have serious reservations about backing her now. She is clearly feeling the pinch of a long hard year and is best avoided. Even the assistance of Ryan Moore last time couldn’t stop her trailing in last place and she may need a break.
Novakai
Trainer: Karl Burke
She ran a cracking race on her seasonal debut in the Musidora Stakes over this trip at York on what was her seasonal reappearance. She then had a month off and was next seen in the Prix De Diane at Chantilly where she finished a very disappointing eleventh behind Blue Rose Cen. It could be that this trip in top-class company completely stretches her or she may well have a nightmare journey on the way over to France. She is probably best watched here until she shows signs of a revival.
Red Riding Hood
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
She has only ever won one race and that came on her second start this season on the all-weather track at Dundalk. Since then she has run in four subsequent races and has run poorly in the last three. This prize looks completely beyond her pay grade and even though she is stepping back in trip which could help, she is very hard to recommend. Others look to be in far better form and she is best ignored here.
Running Lion
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Was upped to this trip for the first time in the Prix De Diane at Chantilly last time having won four races on the bounce. Her most recent victory came in a listed race at Newmarket and that form has been tested plenty and has only proven to be disappointing, to say the least. She may well appreciate a step back in trip and the yard already have a likelier winner in either Soul Sister or Nashwa here. Best to look elsewhere.
Soul Sister
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Looks to be a genuine Group 1 filly and although only lightly raced she has already won the Musidora at York and followed that up with an easy success in the Epsom Oaks. The ground in her last race in the Grand Prix De Paris was bottomless and a return to a sounder surface will see her in a much better light. Frankie Dettori could well be her jockey once more and no surprise if she was able to serve it up to her rivals here. Her stamina is guaranteed and there should be more to come.
Sounds Of Heaven
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Extremely unexposed but has yet to show an appreciation for this mile-and-a-quarter trip. She has only ever been tried at a mile and found Tahiyra too strong in the Coronation Stakes at Epsom last time. She will need to improve again on what she has shown thus far to trouble the best of these and others look to have more solid credentials. Likely to go well for a long way and may surprise a few better-fancied ones on the day.
Unless
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Another Ballydoyle inmate who has run some solid races already this season at a far lower level. She ran a mighty race in a massive field at Royal Ascot last time in the Sandringham Stakes, but that was just a glorified handicap. Some of her rivals here are rated almost thirty pounds better and have stamina in abundance. She may well have but to date that potential remains untapped. The yard look to have far stronger arrows to fire.
Warm Heart
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Looks to be the best chance that Aiden O’Brien has to land a fifth win in this particular contest. She landed the Ribblesdale in what was her third consecutive win last time out and that came over a couple of furlongs further. With stamina concerns allayed the daughter of Galileo proved more than capable of mixing it in this company. She gets weight off her older rivals and she should be able to put them in her place. The yard ought to know exactly how good Blue Rose Cen really is on a line of form through Never Ending Story. Warn Heart has to be considered in a wide-open renewal of this race.
Qatar Nassau Stakes Ante-Post Betting Tips
Despite the fact that Blue Rose Cen has won her last five races, it is hard to equate her form overall with that of her rivals here. Whilst she is clearly a talented filly and has seen off all comers back in France, she now travels across the channel for the first time and may find life a lot tougher especially on a track such as Goodwood racecourse. A chance is therefore taken at this stage on Warm Heart at the prices. The yard has an excellent record in this contest and is now bidding to win it for the fifth time. She has stamina in abundance and being by Galileo, should have the class to cope with this slight step back in trip. Soul Sister looks to be the bigger threat of the Gosden trio and could well prove to be a fly in the ointment. If the rain was to arrive, it may be worth a saver on Rosscarbery who would appreciate every little drop.
Ante-Post Prices
Blue Rose Cen 11/8, Nashwa 3/1, Soul Sister 4/1, Warm Heart 6/1, Via Sistina 8/1, Al Husn 10/1, Above The Curve 12/1, Running Lion 12/1, Sounds Of Heaven 16/1, Rosscarbery 20/1, Araminta 20/1, Caernarfon 22/1, Goldana 33/1, Never Ending Story 33/1, Novakai 33/1, Ameynah 50/1, Jackie Oh 66/1, Red Riding Hood 66/1, Unless 100/1.
Prices are correct at the time of writing and provided by Bet365 bonus code.
