(Photo courtesy of Goodwood Racecourse/PA Media)
Day 3 at Glorious Goodwood is highlighted by the Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares. First run in 1840, the 1 1/4-mile contest was elevated to Group 1 status in 1999 and has been won by some outstanding horses, among them Sceptre, Pretty Polly, Ouija Board, Minding, and three-time winner Midday.
The day also features the 6-furlong Richmond (G3) for two-year-olds, the 1 1/2-mile Gordon (G3) for three-year-olds, and the valuable Kincsem Handicap for three-year-olds over 1 1/4 miles.
All seven races at Goodwood on Thursday are subject to the TwinSpires Rest of the World Bet Back offer, where those who opt in to races with six or more runners can get up to $10 back on their first straight win bet if the horse finishes second. So let’s look at them all!
Many of the runners come here via the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, the Golden Gates Handicap at the same venue, and/or the Heritage Handicap at the Newmarket July meeting July 8. None of the winners — Thesis, Missed the Cut, and New London – are present, but the form is well represented.
One runner that doesn’t come from those races is #3 Migdam, and he may be the most formidable of all the starters. After a lackluster debut last August, he won twice on the Kempton all-weather as a juvenile and then returned to racing with victory in the City of Doncaster Handicap June 4, winning by 1 1/2 lengths despite getting clear late.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, he looks a decent horse in the making and has the class to win this.
#5 Wanees was one of the horses that ran well in the Britannia, finishing sixth to Thesis, Saga, and the subsequent winner Jimi Hendrix. The Britannia has looked like a good form race, and Wanees shouldn’t be far away.
#7 Asgoodassobergets followed victories at Parilly and Wolverhampton with a fine effort for second in the Golden Gates. He was no match for the highly-promising Missed The Cut but comfortably held the others, and this provides a great opportunity.
#1 Natural World looks the best of those who ran in the Newmarket contest, finishing fourth to New London and Swilcan Bridge, an Epsom winner the start before. #4 Warren Point, #8 Asaassi, and #12 Vee Sight are others to watch.
The market is dominated by #3 Chateau and #7 Royal Scotsman. Both earned black type at Royal Ascot: Royal Scotsman when third to Bradsell in the Coventry (G2), and Chateau when fourth in the Windsor Castle S.
Though the Coventry form has been okay, it pales compared to the Windsor Castle. All three horses ahead of Chateau in that race — Little Big Bear, Rocket Rodney, and Eddie’s Boy — have since won, and Chateau added himself a victory at Newbury July 15, despite lots of traffic problems. He will be very difficult to beat.
#4 Crispy Cat was another who ran at Royal Ascot, finishing third in the Norfolk (G3) despite being cut off and possibly being cost second by the wayward winner The Ridler. He disappointed when sixth in the Railway (G2) at The Curragh June 25, but a few things went against him and he could bounce back.
Of those yet to take on group company, the best may be #1 Al Karrar, who showed a fabulous turn of foot when winning his debut at Windsor June 20. This is much tougher but he shouldn’t be underestimated.
There are some highly promising three-year-old stayers going around here. Epsom Derby runner-up #5 Hoo Ya Mal, recently sold to prepare for the Melbourne Cup (G1) in November, is here, along with Derby fifth #7 Masekela, the very smart #8 New London, impressive last-start winner #10 West Wind Blows, and King Edward VII (G2) runner-up #4 Grand Alliance.
Two others well worth examining are #1 Deauville Legend and #2 Al Qareem, who beat home Masekela when first and second in the Bahrain Trophy (G3) at Newmarket July 7. The winner, who finished second at his previous start in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, will carry a three-pound penalty for winning that race, but he looks a very progressive type.
Any one of the horses can win, but Deauville Legend looks the type to progress further, and I’m going to stick with him.
Your view on this race depends totally on whether you rate #7 Nashwa’s form as strong or not. She has clearly been one of the best staying three-year-old fillies, winning the 1 1/4-mile Fillies’ Trial at Newbury, placing third to Tuesday and Emily Upjohn in the 1 1/2-mile Oaks (G1) at Epsom, and then taking out the 1 5/16-mile Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1) by a short neck from La Parisienne.
She's the odds-on favorite for this race, but it has to be said that the Oaks form hasn’t worked out brilliantly, with Tuesday well beaten in the Irish Derby (G1) and Emily Upjohn last of six in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1). Both admittedly were facing good fields of males, but they weren’t efforts that make you think Nashwa is a certainty at odds-on.
The odds are especially surprising considering that #5 Concert Hall, just 1 1/4 lengths behind Nashwa at Epsom, was a best-priced 14-1 on Wednesday. She has run twice since Epsom, finishing fourth in both the Pretty Polly (G1) for fillies and mares in Ireland, and the Belmont Oaks (G1) July 9. Nashwa’s form is better overall, but the odds disparity is still considerable.
If you want to take Nashwa on, the best pair look to be #2 Dreamloper and #3 Lilac Road. Dreamloper won her first two this season, beating race rival #4 Ville De Grace (with Lilac Road fifth) in the Dahlia (G2) May 1 before beating the males in the Prix d’Ispahan (G1) May 29. She disappointed a little when sixth in the Pretty Polly, but conditions were very wet and she should appreciate better ground here.
Lilac Road followed her Dahlia run with victory in the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (G2) at York May 12, beating #1 Aristia, with Ville De Grace fourth.
Other runners are the Oaks seventh placegetter #9 Rogue Millennium, Kilboy Estate (G2) third-place finisher #8 One For Bobby, and #6 Fonteyn, whose victory in the Michael Seely Memorial S. at York May 13 was made to look good when runner-up Grande Dame easily won the Coral Distaff S. at Sandown July 2.
With reasonable footing likely, I’m going to take Dreamloper to get back to her Prix d’Ispahan form, while focusing on her and Nashwa for exotics.
In a nice field of young horses, I’m going to go with #6 Seductive Power. After two nice efforts to gain him experience, he scored decisively at Newbury June 30. Not only was it a good victory in a field of 13, it’s been a race in which two of the beaten brigade have since won and another two have had second-place finishes. With 128 pounds to carry, he looks a nice prospect for this race.
#1 True Statesman is likely to be favorite after thrashing his rivals at his last two starts, on the Chelmsford Polytrack June 16 and at the tight Chester track July 8. He should go well again, but he will have to give seven pounds to Seductive Power, which I’m not sure he can do.
Others to consider for exotics are #3 Far Shot, #4 Faisal Road, #5 Self Praise, #8 X J Rascal, and #9 Sunningdale.
An even field of improving three-year-old sprinters heads up the straight five-furlong track here. A number of runners featured in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Royal Ascot, a race which has already produced Irish Group 2 winner Ladies Church. Two others who performed well, #5 Swayze (seventh) and #1 Navello (eighth), have both won in the interim, and both look good chances here.
Swayze finished half a length in front of Navello at Royal Ascot, and with the gap in the weights the same, there’s no reason why the result can’t be the same.
#3 Get Ahead has been running in Listed company for most of the season, notching up two third-place finishes and a fourth. He got buffeted a bit near the finish on his return to handicap company at Ascot July 9, and he figures to run well if he gets a clear run.
#8 Dusky Prince comes into the race after three consecutive wins, while a useful outsider to consider could be #14 Kape Moss, whose best effort to date came on this track when winning two starts back May 21.
Day three finishes with this seven-furlong clash for two-year-old fillies. Many of these fillies are having their first raceday start, so the market may be the best guide to them. Early favoritism was being contested between #20 Zarga, third on the Kempton Polytrack June 29, and #7 Luckin Brew, second on debut at Newmarket July 9.
I’m going outside the top two to support #14 She’s Hot. Second on debut at Kempton March 30, she then put up a thoroughly creditable effort when finishing ninth to the unbeaten Meditate in the Albany (G3) over six furlongs. Runner-up Mawj has since won the Duchess of Cambridge (G2) at Newmarket July 8, while other good performers from the Albany have also done well in the meantime. She looks likely to be suited by moving up to seven furlongs.