Latest news with #QatarNassauStakes
The 42
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Wonderful Whirl powers to Nassau Stakes glory
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. Advertisement 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.'
South Wales Guardian
31-07-2025
- Climate
- South Wales Guardian
Day three of Goodwood hit by torrential rain
After the first two days took place in pleasant weather, the forecast always suggested conditions on day three could take a turn for the worse. The first race passed on good to firm ground, but as the runners gathered at the start for race two, the Markel Richmond Stakes, the storm clouds were gathering. Current conditions at Goodwood ⛈️☔️ — Molly Hunter (@mollhun) July 31, 2025 As Clive Cox's Coppull crossed the line in front, the heavens had opened and an almighty downpour ensued. It took no time at all for puddles to form in the paddock and clerk of the course Ed Arkell took the decision to call a temporary halt to proceedings. After a 20 minute dousing, the rain began to ease off and the meeting was allowed to get back under way. However, with lightning in the area the Gordon Stakes was started by flag, rather than stalls. There was also a delay to the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes with the course keen for the day's main attraction to begin via starting stalls, with Arkell telling ITV Racing: 'We've had 26mm in 20 minutes or so and we'll make a ground change and it will probably be heavy. 'We might have a delay to the Group One while they get the lightning out of the way so they can use the stalls with it being a Group One. It's very important for the integrity of the race but it's a decision for the stewards, the starters, the jockeys and myself. 'If we can possibly use starting stalls by holding a race up by five minutes or so that would be great. 'Your guess is as good as mine as to how much more rain is to come, there's some more about and we weren't forecast this, but I'm not sure the forecast is that reliable at the moment.'
Irish Examiner
31-07-2025
- Sport
- 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."
Glasgow Times
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
Day three of Goodwood hit by torrential rain
After the first two days took place in pleasant weather, the forecast always suggested conditions on day three could take a turn for the worse. The first race passed on good to firm ground, but as the runners gathered at the start for race two, the Markel Richmond Stakes, the storm clouds were gathering. Current conditions at Goodwood ⛈️☔️ — Molly Hunter (@mollhun) July 31, 2025 As Clive Cox's Coppull crossed the line in front, the heavens had opened and an almighty downpour ensued. It took no time at all for puddles to form in the paddock and clerk of the course Ed Arkell took the decision to call a temporary halt to proceedings. After a 20 minute dousing, the rain began to ease off and the meeting was allowed to get back under way. However, with lightning in the area the Gordon Stakes was started by flag, rather than stalls. There was also a delay to the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes with the course keen for the day's main attraction to begin via starting stalls, with Arkell telling ITV Racing: 'We've had 26mm in 20 minutes or so and we'll make a ground change and it will probably be heavy. Racegoers ducking for cover at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA) 'We might have a delay to the Group One while they get the lightning out of the way so they can use the stalls with it being a Group One. It's very important for the integrity of the race but it's a decision for the stewards, the starters, the jockeys and myself. 'If we can possibly use starting stalls by holding a race up by five minutes or so that would be great. 'Your guess is as good as mine as to how much more rain is to come, there's some more about and we weren't forecast this, but I'm not sure the forecast is that reliable at the moment.'
ITV News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Wonderful Whirl powers to Nassau Stakes glory
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.'
