Goodwood Thursday
Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1)
DIAMOND Necklace (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) confirmed herself a filly of the highest class when landing the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, quickening clear in decisive fashion after travelling powerfully into the race.
The 4/6 favourite led over a furlong out and drew away to beat Friendly Soul (John and Thady Gosden/William Buick) by two and three-quarter lengths, with See The Fire (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) a further five lengths back in third.
The winner, already successful in two French classics this term, was always travelling with purpose behind the pace set by stablemate Moments Of Joy and, once Moore angled her into contention, she put the race beyond doubt in a matter of strides.
Friendly Soul briefly took over from the pacemaker in the straight, but had no answer to the winner’s change of gear, while See The Fire again ran creditably without threatening the first two.
O’Brien said: “Diamond Necklace is a lovely filly, who has danced every dance.
“This was up to a mile and a quarter against older fillies, so we did not really know what was going to happen, but we wanted to put on pace to find out.
“We did not want a Mickey Mouse race either.
All options open
“She has options now, whether she stays at a mile and a quarter and goes to the fillies’ race in France, or to Leopardstown or an Arc trial. She has all of those options open to her. She goes on soft ground as well as fast ground. She is a great cruiser and progressing well.
“She is very high quality. You can see the way she travels through her races. Ryan was just saying that he was hoping to leave her longer but, when she came out, he had to go on with her because her stride was broken. She has a lot of class.”
Asked if she might have a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, O’Brien added: “It is possible. I do not know how far we ask her to go, and it will depend on everything, but the next run will tell us where she is going to go after that. She loves nice ground and a fast track, so she has lots of options.
Thriving
“Constitution River will get all the options too. At the moment, he is going to York, so we are looking forward to him. The lads are never afraid to run against one another, but we will get the next one out of the way and see where we are at.”
Moore said: “That is the best Diamond Necklace has felt. She is improving with her racing. Aidan said she was up in her weights a bit today, so she is obviously thriving.
“She is classy. She travelled smoothly and quickened up well. She is still a little bit idle in front, but she is a proper racing machine. She gives you a classy feel.
“Every time I have ridden her, she has travelled with loads of pace, loads of enthusiasm, and she has a turn of foot. That is what her father had, a really good turn of foot, and that is evident with her.
“I think 10 furlongs is probably her optimum, but with those classy horses, they do everything right, so there is a chance she would stay further. She would have no trouble dropping back as well. We will see.”
Best Friend comes late for Coolmore double
MAN’S Best Friend (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) gave Ballydoyle another pattern-race success when taking the Group 2 Markel Richmond Stakes.
The 11/2 chance was short of room at a crucial stage, but found daylight inside the final furlong and finished strongly to get the better of Adaay Of Scarlett (Hugo Palmer/Oisin Murphy) by a length, with Night In Vegas (Eve Johnson Houghton/Charlie Bishop) a length and a half further away in third.
The favourite Flann Sunna failed to land a blow, and the race developed into a battle among those who were held up for late runs. Adaay Of Scarlett struck the front inside the final furlong, but Man’s Best Friend had the momentum once switched into the clear and was firmly on top at the line.
Baby of a horse
O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with him. The last day at Naas was only his second run and he’s a baby of a horse. We thought bringing him today was going to do him good, win, lose or draw, so he’s a lovely little horse.
“He’s out of a Galileo mare and he came here for experience really. Ryan thought he would get further, he thought he travelled well and he liked him. All options are open, he looks a Middle Park type of horse or the Gimcrack, so all those races are open to him.
“Ryan said he had nowhere to go really through the whole race, but he liked him, he said he felt classy and that he’d get further. There’s a lot of options open to him; he could turn into a Dewhurst horse, who knows. He could be a nice colt.”
Enceladus enhances Leger claims
ENCELADUS (Joseph O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle) justified 6/4 favouritism in the Group 3 Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes, staying on to go clear in the straight and in control, although closed down late by Geryon (Ger Lyons/Colin Keane) to win by a length and a quarter, with Venetian Lace (Charlie Johnston/Jason Hart) four and a quarter lengths further back in third.
Enceladus was stepping up to group company on the back of an impressive win in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, and took the promotion with aplomb in this recognised St Leger Trial.
Joseph O’Brien said: “I’m delighted, it was a nice ride from Dylan. It was a really nice performance and he’s a progressive, improving colt.
“It was a big step up in class and it’s a hard thing to do, but he’s going the right way and I’m delighted to have a horse of his potential for Maria and the Niarchos team.”
Handicap recap
The Coral Kincsem Handicap went to Ciarrai Abu (Harry Eustace/George Wood), the 10/3 favourite, who overcame pre-race antics to beat Bourbon Blues by a length, with Evanesco a short head away in third. The Buccellati Handicap produced a 5/1 winner in the speedy Naana’s Shadow (Katie Scott/Oisin Murphy), who beat 50/1 outsider U S S Charleston by a length and three-quarters.
Later on the card, the Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap went to 33/1 outsider Sword Salute (Charlie Johnston/Rowan Scott), the Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes was won by Avalon Queen (Roger Teal/Billy Loughnane) and the closing HKJC World Pool Handicap went to 2/1 favourite Exclusive Code (Archie Watson/James Doyle).