THE SUN HASN’T quite set on Galway just yet, but the day’s main attraction comes at Goodwood where seven go to post for an excellent renewal of the Fillies’ Group 1 Nassau Stakes (15:10).
Two-time-winner Midday is the one whom they all have to beat. Henry Cecil’s five-year-old looked set to replicate her stunning form of last season when winning a Group 2 in York in May and then running St. Nicholas Abbey a close second in the Coronation Cup.
Since then however, progress has tailed off slightly, and she disappointed at short odds against another of today’s contenders, Aidan O’Brien’s Misty for Me, in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month.
There is nothing to suggest that she won’t be in the shake-up today though, and the Queally/Cecil combination have already shown themselves to be in fine form this week.
The Coolmore challenger already has two Group 1 victories to her name in 2011, following up a sub-par seasonal debut in the Newmarket Guineas with a three-quarter length victory in the Irish edition three weeks later. The extra distance didn’t really seem to suit her in the Oaks and, judging by the rather tame pace which was set in the Pretty Polly, there is a danger that a firmly-run 10 furlongs might just catch her out.
Ed Dunlop’s Snow Fairy will also have her say this afternoon. She has been lightly raced so far this season, with almost a six-month gap between her win at the Hong Kong Cup and her fourth-place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Four Group 1 wins in 2010 have entitled her to respect among the fillies, although there is a slight concern that she might be at her best over the longer trip.
Meanwhile, in Ballybrit, the day’s feature is the flat 2m Ladbrokespoker.com Handicap (17:00). Striking Force was a game, if distant, second in the Topaz Handicap on Tuesday. Running off the same mark, connections will be hopeful that she can make the frame again.
Chances are that the winner will come from the top end of the weights, however, and Brabazon, Darenjan and Pozyc are the ones to be most closely watched.
Nap of the day
Preference in the Nassau Stakes is for the in-form Misty for Me (2/1), who benefits from a ten-pound allowance as one of just two three-year-olds in the field.
