Nassau distance test expected to be within Nazeef’s reach

PA Sport Reporters
July 29, 2020 12:16 pm

Gosden filly heads to Goodwood with Group One glory already in safe keeping.

Nazeef has already exceeded the hopes of her connections and will therefore face her next challenge with “no pressure” in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

Defending champion Deirdre and French Classic winner Fancy Blue lead the six-strong opposition to John Gosden’s prolific filly in Thursday’s Group One showpiece at Goodwood.

Nazeef is already an “absolute star”, however, in the words of owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s racing manager Angus Gold – who is optimistic that, following her Group One breakthrough in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes, she will take this move up to 10 furlongs in her stride.

Nazeef lands her first Group 1 success in a terrific @Tattersalls1766 Falmouth Stakes under @JimCrowley1978 for @JohnGosden1 ? ? pic.twitter.com/hp9HhcidVr
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 10, 2020

The four-year-old has extended her winning sequence to six, and Gold said: “She’s been an absolute star obviously this year – it’s lovely to see her not only fulfil the potential but exceed what we hoped.

“We were hoping to make her a stakes winner – and she’s won a Listed, Group Two and now a Group One.

“It’s been a real thrill.”

He admits the extra two furlongs are a step into the unknown, but expects them to suit Nazeef.

“Stepping up in trip now will be interesting, but everyone who has ridden her has always felt she would get it,” added Gold.

“Obviously you never know for sure until they try, but I’m very hopeful she will stay it – the way she has always finished off her races.

“There’s no pressure. She’s a Group One winner, and she’s done us and herself proud.”

Nazeef’s main rival in the market is Fancy Blue, who gave her trainer Donnacha O’Brien a first Classic win when claiming the Prix de Diane in a thrilling finish at Chantilly earlier this month.

Second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas previously, Fancy Blue beat Alpine Star a short neck in the Diane, with third-placed Peaceful and fourth Raabihah just two heads further back.

O’Brien said: “In a tight finish between four horses you can usually mark it down a bit, but they were definitely the right horses involved that day and they pulled clear of the rest of the field, so it looks like very strong form.

“Fancy Blue is very genuine, tries hard and takes her work well. She’s a very uncomplicated and talented filly who relaxes and is able to quicken.

“She gets a mile and a quarter very well and is closely related to High Chaparral (the 2002 Derby winner), so there’s plenty of stamina in her pedigree and she will probably get a mile and a half in time. I think she can probably be competitive in Group Ones anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half.

“There are a great bunch of fillies around at the moment. Among the three-year-olds you have Love, who looks special, and then, of course, you’ve got Enable and Magical, and a few of the those turning up at Goodwood this week, including ours.”

O’Brien expects Fancy Blue to adapt to the Sussex track as she lines up in a race that is part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

He added: “You can’t be sure until you go there, but she’s quite easy to ride in a race and adaptable. I’d say she’s got a very good chance of handling it all and she’s been in great form since France.”

Deirdre (left) is bidding for a Nassau Stakes double (Mark Kerton/PA)

Japanese runner Deirdre secured a famous victory in the race last year and will bid to follow in the footsteps of eventual three-times race winner Midday, who successfully defended her title in 2011.

The six-year-old warmed up for this race by finishing fifth in the Eclipse, with assistant trainer Yoshi Hashida believing the mare to have taken a step forward since that outing.

He said: “I think she has improved since her last race, maybe it is the seasons – August is always her favourite season.

“We tried the Eclipse because Sandown has a long straight and with the Covid situation it has been a little bit tricky to train the horses. Sandown was proper timing for us.

Midday successfully defended her Nassau title in 2011 (Chris Ison/PA)

“We found there that she might struggle with the uphill, now we are heading to the Nassau Stakes with the long straight and flat course. It is a beautiful racecourse, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

“We understand the great importance of the race, we have seen Midday win three times and we are the only horse to have a chance to win twice in a row (since) and I can’t wait.

“We won last year, so we are very excited. I can’t wait.”

Magic Wand is an Australian Group One winner (PA)_

Aidan O’Brien and Frankie Dettori team up with Magic Wand, an Australian Group One winner who has successfully plied her trade right across the world and was last seen finishing fourth in the Eclipse.

O’Brien said: “She’s a lovely filly who takes everything in her stride and this looks a nice race for her in the middle of the summer.

“She’s very straightforward and we’re very happy with her.”

The seven-strong field is completed by Sir Michael Stoute’s Queen Power, the Jessica Harrington-trained One Voice and Amanda Perrett’s Lavender’s Blue.