Wonderful Whirl powers to Nassau Stakes glory
The previous race, the Gordon Stakes, was subject to a small delay due to a torrential downpour and when almost 30 millimetres of rain fell in half an hour, the going was changed to heavy.
With lightning in the area, too, the starting stalls were deemed too dangerous to use and following a flag start Ryan Moore took the bull by the horns and sent the Oaks runner-up into the lead.
The Musidora and Pretty Polly winner, who lost out only narrowly at Epsom to stablemate Minnie Hauk, was always in control and while See The Fire briefly looked a threat, Moore had saved plenty and Whirl pulled five lengths clear as the 6-5 favourite. Cecerne, a surprise winner of the Coronation Stakes, kept on well for second on her first run over 10 furlongs.
O'Brien said: "It's incredible really, she's a home-bred filly by Wootton Bassett who has all the options in front of her. She could go to the Arc, the Arc trials, and the Breeders' Cup as well.
"In the spring when the fillies worked it was Whirl who came up in front. Minnie Hauk is a great traveller, a great cruiser, and we won't see the best of her until she goes up in class against older horses.
"Even when she was following this filly at Epsom she was finding it very easy to follow her, but listen, we don't know what this filly is yet either. We saw what happened at Epsom, where Ryan (on Minnie Hauk) was very confident that he was going to go and get her but she just kept coming with him.
"When they do come together we will find out who is the best."
For his part, Joe Murphy could hardly have been more proud of Cercene following her second-placed finish.
"We were delighted with the filly, Gary said she was wheel-spinning on the ground and she still ran a great race," said Murphy.
"We do know she needs good ground but she's just sheer courage, she's a wonderful thing.
"She's unbelievable, she really is. No words can describe how genuine and honest and tough she is. She loves life.
"She gets the trip no problem, but I think we'll go back for the Matron (Stakes, over a mile at Leopardstown) and hope the ground is good.
"She's the best filly I've ever trained and I've had some really good fillies.
"She just comes out on top, you could see for yourself the courage. Pure courage. I am proud, I'm proud of everyone. I'm proud of myself as well!"
On whether he considered withdrawing her when the rain fell so heavily, the trained quipped: "When you look at the prize pot and see the cheque you could get... we need the money!"
Andrew Balding's See The Fire was the third-placed horse at 5-2 under Oisin Murphy, beaten six and a quarter lengths in total.
"Conditions weren't ideal obviously, but who is to say we would have beaten the winner anyway?" said the trainer.
"She didn't have a terribly hard time and seemed OK afterwards. We will kick on to York for the Juddmonte International."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Wonderful Whirl powers to Nassau Stakes glory
Aidan O'Brien's Whirl dominated the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, to record her second Group 1 success of the season. The previous race, the Gordon Stakes, was subject to a small delay due to a torrential downpour and when almost 30 millimetres of rain fell in half an hour, the going was changed to heavy. With lightning in the area, too, the starting stalls were deemed too dangerous to use and following a flag start Ryan Moore took the bull by the horns and sent the Oaks runner-up into the lead. The Musidora and Pretty Polly winner, who lost out only narrowly at Epsom to stablemate Minnie Hauk, was always in control and while See The Fire briefly looked a threat, Moore had saved plenty and Whirl pulled five lengths clear as the 6-5 favourite. Cecerne, a surprise winner of the Coronation Stakes, kept on well for second on her first run over 10 furlongs. O'Brien said: "It's incredible really, she's a home-bred filly by Wootton Bassett who has all the options in front of her. She could go to the Arc, the Arc trials, and the Breeders' Cup as well. "In the spring when the fillies worked it was Whirl who came up in front. Minnie Hauk is a great traveller, a great cruiser, and we won't see the best of her until she goes up in class against older horses. "Even when she was following this filly at Epsom she was finding it very easy to follow her, but listen, we don't know what this filly is yet either. We saw what happened at Epsom, where Ryan (on Minnie Hauk) was very confident that he was going to go and get her but she just kept coming with him. "When they do come together we will find out who is the best." For his part, Joe Murphy could hardly have been more proud of Cercene following her second-placed finish. "We were delighted with the filly, Gary said she was wheel-spinning on the ground and she still ran a great race," said Murphy. "We do know she needs good ground but she's just sheer courage, she's a wonderful thing. "She's unbelievable, she really is. No words can describe how genuine and honest and tough she is. She loves life. "She gets the trip no problem, but I think we'll go back for the Matron (Stakes, over a mile at Leopardstown) and hope the ground is good. "She's the best filly I've ever trained and I've had some really good fillies. "She just comes out on top, you could see for yourself the courage. Pure courage. I am proud, I'm proud of everyone. I'm proud of myself as well!" On whether he considered withdrawing her when the rain fell so heavily, the trained quipped: "When you look at the prize pot and see the cheque you could get... we need the money!" Andrew Balding's See The Fire was the third-placed horse at 5-2 under Oisin Murphy, beaten six and a quarter lengths in total. "Conditions weren't ideal obviously, but who is to say we would have beaten the winner anyway?" said the trainer. "She didn't have a terribly hard time and seemed OK afterwards. We will kick on to York for the Juddmonte International."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We've never seen this before' – ITV Racing presenters stunned by 'embarrassing' flag start at Goodwood races
ITV Racing hosts were left stunned and admitted 'we've never seen this before' after a flag start was used for the feature Group 1 at Glorious Goodwood. Punters branded the start to the mega-money Nassau Stakes 'absolutely embarrassing'. Advertisement 2 The starting stalls were not used for the Group 1 Flat race - something the ITV team and jockey Ryan Moore had never seen before 2 Biblical rain hit the track but it was thunder and lightning that forced the flag start Credit: Getty The Sussex track was helpless amid a torrential 25mm downpour on the third day of their Glorious festival. But it was the thunder and lightning overhead that sparked a very unusual start to the 1m2f contest for fillies. In Flat races, horses always break from the starting stalls. But the dangerous weather meant they couldn't use them here, with a flag start - like the ones seen in jumps racing - having to be employed. Advertisement The ITV hosts including Ed Chamberlin and Sun Racing's Matt Chapman said they had never seen a flag start used for a Group 1 - the top-tier level of races. It didn't stop winner Whirl, though, who thrived in the mud for winning trainer Aidan O'Brien and drenched jockey Ryan Moore. But even the globetrotting rider said he had never raced in a Group 1 from a flag start before. There was nothing in the stewards' report about the rarely seen move but Chamberlin declared on the main channel: "We've never seen this before." Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Officials were given no choice but to resort to the flag given the weather. But punters thought the race - which saw Whirl win over £340,000 for her owners Coolmore - should have been delayed to ensure a proper start. One viewer wrote on X: "A flag start in a Group 1 is absolutely embarrassing. Unacceptable. "Delay or abandon. You can't start Group 1 races that affect the breed like it's a 3-mile chase at Haydock." Advertisement FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Whirl makes all in driving rain at Goodwood to win the Qatar Nassau Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's Whirl dominated the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, to record her second Group One success of the season. The previous race, the Gordon Stakes, was subject to a small delay due to a torrential downpour and when almost 30 millimetres of rain fell in half an hour, the going was changed to heavy. With lightning in the area, too, the starting stalls were deemed to dangerous to use and following a flag start Ryan Moore took the bull by the horns and sent the Oaks runner-up into the lead. The Musidora and Pretty Polly winner, who lost out only narrowly at Epsom to stablemate Minnie Hauk, was always in control and while See The Fire briefly looked a threat, Moore had saved plenty and Whirl pulled five lengths clear as the 6-5 favourite. Cecerne, a surprise winner of the Coronation Stakes, kept on well for second on her first run over 10 furlongs. O'Brien said: "It's incredible really, she's a home-bred filly by Wootton Bassett who has all the options in front of her. She could go to the Arc, the Arc trials, and the Breeders' Cup as well. "In the spring when the fillies worked it was Whirl who came up in front. Minnie Hauk is a great traveller, a great cruiser, and we won't see the best of her until she goes up in class. "When they do come together we will find out who is the best." Clive Cox won the Markel Richmond Stakes for the third time in seven years as Coppull ran out a comfortable winner, in a race run in torrential rain. Following on from Golden Horde in 2019 and Supremacy 12 months later, Cox bided his time with the son of Bated Breath after a meritorious run at Royal Ascot. He finished third behind Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes there and paid the winner a handsome compliment, always looking in control under David Probert. Aidan O'Brien's Puerto Rico finished second for the third race in a row, but never looked like getting on terms with the two-length winner. Eve Johnson Houghton's Havana Hurricane was last at the halfway stage and while he did make plenty of progress, his run eventually flattened out and he finished third. Merchant pulled out all the stops to deny Wimbledon Hawkeye in a thrilling finish to the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes in attritional conditions. An impressive winner in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, William Haggas' improving son of Teofilo was sent off the 6-5 favourite to enhance his growing reputation with a Group Three success. With the threat of lightning meaning a flag start it was Gary and Josh Moore's Too Soon who led them along, with the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned market leader among those held up at the rear of the field along with Aidan O'Brien's Galveston and Andrew Balding's recent Sandown winner Windlord. With the runners edging over to the stands side with the two-furlong pole approaching, it appeared as though James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye would take some reeling in, but Merchant's jockey Tom Marquand had a brave ally when he needed him, with the colt bridging the deficit to register a nose verdict in the nick of time.
