Search

show me:

Winter among 30 in Qatar Nassau Stakes

3 minute read

Winter (Aidan O'Brien IRE) heads the entries for the £600,000 G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, staged over just short of 10 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Winter
Winter Picture: Racing and Sports

This year sees the Qatar Nassau Stakes move from its previous Saturday slot, the fifth and final day of Qatar Goodwood Festival, to become the highlight of Ladies' Day, Thursday, August 3.

Ireland's champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien bagged his third Qatar Nassau Stakes in 2016 with the outstanding Minding and Winter heads the Ballydoyle handler's nine entries this time around, having already bagged an impressive G1 treble in 2017 with victories in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

Also among the O'Brien-trained contingent are last year's G1 Matron Stakes heroine Alice Springs, QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks runner-up Rhododendron, plus the 2016 G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks scorer Seventh Heaven.

Runner-up to Minding in 2016 was Queen's Trust (Sir Michael Stoute). The daughter of Dansili, now a four-year-old, ended last year in great style when taking the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, USA, in November.

She has made two appearances so far in 2017, most recently finish a staying-on fourth, beaten two lengths, behind Highland Reel in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 21.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Queen's Trust's owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "We would very much hope that Queen's Trust can go for the Qatar Nassau Stakes again this year.

"I haven't spoken to Sir Michael since her run at Royal Ascot last week but we have put her in and the race is very much an option for her.

"She was slowly away at Royal Ascot and got pinned in on the rail. When she did get clear, she ran on well to the line.

"She certainly showed improvement from her first run this season at York and hopefully she can continue to do that throughout the year."

Sir Michael Stoute has three entries in total as the Newmarket trainer seeks a record-equalling eighth success in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. In addition to Queen's Trust, his entries are multiple Listed winner Abingdon and Smart Call, a three-time G1 winner in South Africa.

Another trainer with an excellent record in the Qatar Nassau Stakes is John Gosden, who has won the prestigious contest four times, including three consecutive successes between 2012 and 2014.

The Newmarket handler has made three entries in 2017 - Journey, winner of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies' & Mares' Stakes at Ascot in October last year, G1 Prix de Diane fourth Shutter Speed and So Mi Dar, winner of four of her five starts but not seen out since finishing a close third in the G1 Prix de l'Opera in October.

Three entries are owned by Godolphin, including Wuheida (Charlie Appleby), winner of her two starts to date but not seen out since landing the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly in October.

Sobetsu (Charlie Appleby) is also a G1 winner, having captured the Prix Saint-Alary at Deauville in May before disappointing in the Investec Oaks, while Arabian Hope (Saeed bin Suroor) was a Listed winner at York earlier this month.

There are 14 Irish-trained entries in total, including G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes scorer Creggs Pipes (Andrew Slattery) and Turret Rocks (Jim Bolger), a winner at G2 and G3 level.

The French entry is Wajnah (Francois Rohaut), owned by Al Shaqab Racing. The three-year-old was fourth on her latest start in the French Classic , the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas).

The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.


Racing and Sports

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au