Midday wins the Nassau Stakes for a record third
time, handing Sir Henry Cecil his eighth win at Glorious Goodwood.
The magnificent Midday does it again at Glorious Goodwood, as she becomes the first filly to win the Group1 Nassau Stakes three times in row on 30 July, 2011.
The win at Goodwood racecourse England was the Sir Henry Cecil’s eighth Nassau win. It was a successful final day for champion filly and trainer, who also earned a popular record breaking success.
Sent off as the 6 to 4 favourite, the 5-year-old mare daughter of Oasis Dream, under jockey Tom Queally, won the race by 2 lengths over the multiple stakes winner daughter of Intikhab, globetrotter Snow Fairy.
Little urging from jockey Tom Queally prompted a final surge by Midday, as she led with a quarter mile remaining, maintained steady pace, she was unbothered the last furlong and maintained steady pace to hit the wire.
The four-year-old bay filly, Snow Fairy won the Group 1 Investec Oaks at Epsom last year on 4 June, 2011; she followed with another win in the Irish equivalent Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks for fillies held at the Curragh on 18 July, 2010.
Snow Fairy finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of another Sir Henry Cecil trained 4-year-old filly Principal Role, both the fillies Snow Fairy and Principal Role were held back at the start of the race.
Sir Michael Stoute owned Crustal Capella started to push things on with the winner Midday, as both of them started the surge with four furlongs out. The two fillies sandwiched the leaders and showed their intent to win.
Crystal Capella ridden by Jimmy Fortune soon started fading away as she the pair cracked under pressure and, couldn’t keep up the with the blistering pace shown by Midday and Snow Fairy.
Despite a promising run from Snow Fairy, she couldn’t keep up with the pace set by Midday and started falling away. Midday opened up the field and defeated Snow Fairy by a considerable 2 lengths to the wire.
Principal Role kept the pace short of Snow Fairy, as she rolled on for the third. Crystal Capella, who was making her first start at the highest level and which was to be the toughest six-pack field, eventually finished fourth.
The anticipation was that the Nassau Stakes will draw a strong cast including the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Misty for Me who is trained by Aidan O’Brien, was an early scratch due to ground related issues.
The year Midday won her first Nassau Stakes for Sir Henry Cecil was also the year when she won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita back in 2009.
Midday has won 9 races out of 20 starts with 6 second place finishes and three times third. With Nassau Stakes win, her earning have shot up to a whopping £2 million mark.
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