Glorious Goodwood
Date: Tuesday, 28 July-Saturday, 1 August
Coverage: Commentary of all the main races on BBC Radio 5 Live and via the 5 Live website (UK users only) More racing coverage details
 Queally made the most of the tricky conditions to clinch victory |
The Epsom Oaks runner-up Midday returned to winning form with victory in the Nassau Stakes on the final day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting. After heavy rain there had been doubts whether the filly would handle the soft ground at the Sussex course. But trainer Henry Cecil decided she would run and his faith was justified as the 11-2 shot, ridden by Tom Queally, ran out an easy winner. Meanwhile, the big sprint, the Stewards Cup, was won by Genki at odds of 14-1. Steve Drowne's mount pulled away from his rivals in the final furlong to win by a length from the David Nicholls-trained Evens And Odds (33-1). Top-weight Knot In Wood was a gallant third, three-quarters of a length away, with the favourite Markab fourth. The weather had caused some difficulties in the Nassau Stakes as the field came across to the stands side in the straight but it was Midday who was in front as the runners emerged from the gloom. She kept on strongly to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths, with the favourite Rainbow View in second, ahead of Moneycantbuymelove.  | 606: DEBATE |
Midday had struggled in the mud at the Curragh when finishing third to Sariska in the Irish Oaks and Cecil admitted afterwards that he had nearly pulled her out of this race but lost his bottle. "She doesn't like it soft but I had seen her work well on good to soft and they were going through it," he said. "The times of the other races weren't too bad so I took a chance but then thought 'God, I have done the wrong thing'. "I couldn't watch the race and felt quite sick but I heard everyone shouting 'come on Midday, come on Midday' so I knew that we weren't tailed off." Queally, who clinched his third Group One race of the season, was full of praise for Cecil. "She did it well and she's back to her best. Henry stuck his neck out and said he wanted to run," he added. "We just didn't want to break her heart again and disappoint her [on soft ground] but she went on it better than I thought she would - Irish soft ground and English are two different things and this proved it."
Nassau Stakes 1. Midday (T P Queally) 11-2
2. Rainbow View (J Fortune) 5-2 Fav
3. Moneycantbuymelove (J P Spencer) 17-2
10 ran. Dist: 2¼, ½ Stewards Cup
1. Genki (S Drowne) 14-1
2. Evens And Odds (W A Carson) 33-1
3. Knot In Wood (B McHugh) 10-1
4. Markab (P Cosgrave) 15-2 Fav
26 ran. Dist: 1, ¾
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