NEWS
Midday looks for second Nassau Stakes triumph
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010 4:46 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Khalid Abdullah’s homebred Midday (GB) will bid for a repeat win in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Eng-G1) against six challengers on Saturday at Glorious Goodwood.
In last year’s edition of the race, the Oasis Dream (GB) filly overcame her dislike of the soft turf at the West Sussex racecourse to score a convincing 2¼-length victory over European champion Rainbow View. The win followed her second to Sariska in the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) and third to that opponent in the Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) amid a busy three-year-old season that culminated in the U.S. with a win in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Ahead of the Nassau, the going on Goodwood’s round course earlier this week was rated as good to firm.
Trainer Henry Cecil has kept the Midday’s schedule to a minimum thus far year to focus on a campaign of major races that come later in the season. In her only start of 2010, the bay filly finished second to Sariska in the Totesport.com Middleton Stakes (Eng-G2) on May 13 at York
"Her program really has been a late summer-autumn campaign because of races like the Nassau on Saturday, the Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1), the [Prix] Vermeille (Fr-G1), the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-G1), Breeders' Cup, all those sorts of major older fillies' races come late in the season," Teddy Grimthorpe, Abdullah's racing manager, told England’s Press Association.
"With that in mind, Henry wants to have her right for those races. She seems to have come on nicely. He's obviously suitably pleased with her as she worked pretty well the other day. They are going to be tough races, but we are very excited with her."
Bookmaker and race sponsor Blue Square listed Midday as the 9-to-4 favorite on Thursday afternoon.
French-based fillies Stacelita and Rosanara are both listed as the co-second wagering choice at 7-to-2.
Martin Schwartz’s Stacelita won three consecutive Group 1 events in her native country last season, including the Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) (French Oaks) by four lengths. That race was bookended by a six-length win in the Montjue Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) and a 4¾-length triumph in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1). The Monsun filly has made two starts this season, including her 1½-length win in the La Coupe (Fr-G3) on June 14 in her most recent outing.
The Aga Khan’s homebred Rosanara, winner of a Group 1 race last year as a juvenile, was a supplemental entry into the Nassau, following her runner-up finish to Sarafina in this year’s French Oaks on June 13. She missed her expected start in the Darley Irish Oaks on July 18 when she refused to board a flight from France to Ireland. This time, she will travel by van to her appointed destination.
The seven-horse field for the 1¼-mile Nassau also includes Oaks d’Italia (Ity-G2) winner Contredanse, Windsor Forest Stakes (Eng-G2) winner Strawberrydaiquiri, Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G3) winner Antara, and two-time Bet365 Lancashire Oaks (Eng-G2) winner Barshiba.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Jack, Baltimore, MD on July 29, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Midday is still a class filly. But she's going to have some real competition in this year's running of the Blue Square Nassau Stakes. The French filly, Stacelita, will be one tough competitor. 7 wins in 9 starts, including wins in the 09' Prix De Diane, and the Prix Vermille. Also, recent Windsor Forest Stakes winner at Ascot, Strawberrydaquiri, and recent Lancashire Oaks winner, Barshiba. Who also ran 3rd to Harbinger in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot.
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