Breeding & Racing Magazine

Japanese Star To Defend Nassau Stakes Title

The Gr1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday is headlined by Japanese star Deirdre (Harbinger-Reizend, by Special Week) who won the race last year, reports racingpost.com. Champion jockey Oisin Murphy will ride the Mitsuru Hashida-trained mare who is currently third in the betting at $4. Since her win in the 2019 Gr1 Nassau Stakes, Deirdre has been globe trotting, with a fourth in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes, third in the Gr1 Ascot Champion Stakes, fourth in the Gr1 Hong Kong Vase, second in a non-stakes race in Saudi Arabia, and most recently fifth in the Gr1 Sandown Eclipse Stakes. In total, she has had 8 wins from 30 starts for earnings of £503,312, €50,000, HK$7,780,000, 750,000SAR, 295,797,000¥ and 2,752,500Dhs. Favourite for the Nassau Stakes is Fancy Blue (Deep Impact-Chenchikova, by Sadler's Wells) at 5-2. Trainer Donnacha O'Brien said, "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, 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 1s anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half." Fancy Blue has won three of her four starts, including a last start win in the Gr1 Chantilly Prix de Diane, France's Oaks equivalent.