Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, Hollie Doyle, knows exactly what it takes to conquer the Group 1 Nassau Stakes after her victorious ride on Nashwa in 2022. In this preview she breaks down Thursday’s marquee race at Goodwood, offering insight into the form, the contenders, and the conditions that could shape the outcome. The highlight of day three at the Qatar Goodwood Festival is undoubtedly the Qatar Nassau Stakes, scheduled for 3:35 p.m. on Thursday.
The race features a small but high‑quality field of five fillies, with the clear favorite being the brilliant Diamond Necklace. Backed by a strong weight‑for‑age allowance of nine pounds, the unbeaten daughter of St Mark’s Basilica, trained by Aidan O’Brien, looks poised to add another Group 1 triumph to her résumé.
Diamond Necklace has already proven herself at the top level, having taken the French Oaks over ten furlongs on fast ground. That performance demonstrated not only her stamina but also her ability to accelerate on firm going, a factor that should serve her well on the Goodwood Downs, where the forecast calls for a good-to-firm surface. Official ratings place her only a narrow margin ahead of her nearest rivals, Friendly Soul and See The Fire, indicating a tightly contested race despite her status as the odds‑on favorite. Friendly Soul, trained by the Gosdens, is a multiple Group 1 winner who showed a striking turn of foot in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After a lengthy spell away from the track, she returned with a performance that suggested she still possesses the class to challenge for top honors. If Diamond Necklace were to under‑perform, Friendly Soul would likely be the mare to benefit, given her proven ability to handle the Goodwood course and her strong finishing kick. See The Fire, representing Andrew Balding’s stable, impressed in the Middleton Stakes at York in May and was a close runner‑up in the Nassau two years ago.
However, her recent form has been less convincing, with a string of 13 starts without a win at the highest level. While she remains a talented filly, the weight‑for‑age allowance may not be enough to bridge the gap to the leading trio. Beyond the Nassau, the card includes several other noteworthy contests.
On the same day, Kalpana will take on Caledonian in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while Ryan Moore has been honored with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. The Derby sees Benvenuto Cellini leading an Aidan O’Brien‑filled field at Epsom, and Kevin Blake of At The Races provides his expert picks for Derby day.
Turning to the two‑year‑old division, my personal favorite is Cut A Dash, who burst onto the scene with a debut win at York and has continued to impress. He is slated for the Group 2 Markel Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, a race that offers a perfect platform for him to test his speed against the likely favourite, Flann Sunna. Flann Sunna has yet to defeat a horse of notable quality, having only won at Windsor and Ascot, whereas Cut A Dash has already held his own against the highly regarded Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Richard Hannon’s colt, backed by official ratings, appears well‑placed to benefit from the weight allowances in the Richmond, and a strong performance could set him up for a serious challenge in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York next month.
Likewise, I have an eye on Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Night In Vegas, a proven course and distance winner who finished just behind Cut A Dash in the Coventry. His credentials suggest he can handle the pressure of a major race and could be a dark horse in the Richmond. Further down the card, Bay Of Brilliance, a fourth‑place finisher in the Epsom Derby, will contest the Group 3 Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes, a traditional St Leger trial. While his recent flop in the German equivalent raises questions, his winning record on this course gives him an edge.
Nevertheless, I lean toward Joseph O’Brien’s rising colt Enceladus, who has shown progressive improvement and could stake a claim for the world’s oldest Classic. In the Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap, the draw has not been kind to Decade Of Time, yet I still believe he can make an impact despite the unfavorable starting position.
His partner, Tom Marquand, will face a challenge from stall 14, where Jack Channon’s colt, who performed respectably at Nottingham behind Heraldry, will be looking to improve. Another intriguing runner is Sean Woods’s Savvy Disko, who demonstrated a turn of foot over a slightly shorter trip at Lingfield. With Billy Loughnane aboard, he could handle the higher weight and the hotter ground, making him a potential upset factor. In the Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap, both Richard Hannon and Sean Levey have entries with strong claims.
Shadow King, despite a penalty for a recent Doncaster win over a shorter distance, looks suited to the seven‑furlong trip and could benefit from a low draw, offering a chance for a surprise victory. The Bookkeeper, trained by former stable jockey Richard Hughes, ran a respectable race in the Woodcote at Epsom and should feel comfortable on this track. Ryan Moore, a strong booking for the son of Sioux Nation, also appears well‑positioned. I will return on Friday with a fresh set of thoughts, focusing on the Group 2 sprint, the King George Qatar Stakes, and the Coral Golden Mile Handicap.
Until then, keep following Sky Sports Racing for the latest news, interviews, and features from the world of horse racing. Hollie Doyle shared these insights with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, offering fans an inside look at the strategy and expectations surrounding one of the season’s most exciting Group 1 events.