November 27, 2024

Izzi tops prospective field for Nassau

Last updated: 7/30/12 1:51 PM


A total of 10 fillies is eligible for the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, run over
just shy of 1 1/4 miles on the final day of Glorious Goodwood Saturday.

The entries are headed by John Gosden’s Izzi Top, who hasn’t met defeat in
four starts since coming home third in last season’s Group 1 Oaks at Epsom and
has recently bagged the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on July 1.

Gosden, who has saddled five individual Group 1 winners already this season,
could also be represented by The Fugue, owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and
his wife Madeleine.

The daughter of Dansili was an impressive 4 1/2-length winner of the Group 3
Musidora Stakes at York in May before flashing home to finish an unlucky-looking
third in the Oaks at Epsom on June 1. She was last seen at Royal Ascot on June
21 when she finished second in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, six lengths
behind Princess Highway.

Simon Marsh, racing and bloodstock manager to Lord Lloyd-Webber, said: “The
Fugue will run in the Nassau Stakes providing the ground is in her favor — good
or good to firm ground would be ideal.

“She has been doing very well since Royal Ascot and we have been very happy
with her. I have been very happy with her progress this season and she is a
lovely filly to have. When she gets her ground, she is a nice filly.

“She won the Musidora Stakes very easily and she has a lot of speed, so I
think dropping back to a mile and a quarter will be absolutely fine.

“I don’t think the track will hold any fears for her. She handled York fine
and she handled Epsom so I don’t think Goodwood will be a problem.”

Aidan O’Brien has three fillies going forward including Oaks winner Was and
Maybe, who enjoyed an unbeaten two-year-old campaign last season which
culminated with a dominant display in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in
August. Group 1 French One Thousand Guineas second Up is also engaged.

Roger Varian could saddle last season’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera winner
Nahrain, while Sir Henry Cecil, who has won the past three renewals with Midday,
may bid for a fourth consecutive success with last season’s Group 1 Falmouth
Stakes winner Timepiece.

Sea of Heartbreak, Lay Time and Clinical complete the entries.

The going at Goodwood remains good at latest report.

“We have had a drying day at Goodwood today,” Goodwood’s Clerk of the Course
Seamus Buckley said Monday. “It has been warm with a strong breeze.

“We are forecast to receive some rain overnight, around two millimeters,
which should move away pretty quickly.

“If the forecast is correct, it should keep the ground nice and fresh. The
going remains good with a GoingStick reading of 8.3 and we should start Glorious
Goodwood tomorrow on good summer Flat racing ground.

“I am very happy with the condition of the course and we are set fair for a
wonderful week of racing.”



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