Nassau Stakes Tips and Free Bets

Nassau Stakes Preview: Tips, Betting Offers and Odds

The major Group class contest on the third day at Glorious Goodwood is the Nassau Stakes for the fillies. Here we take a look at the best odds and Glorious Goodwood betting offers and provide our betting tips for the race.

First run at Goodwood back in 1840, this Group 1 contest is run over a trip just a few yards shy of 1m2f and now offers £600,000 in total prize money. There have been some top class winners in the past and the Nassau is undoubtedly the feature race of the middle day of Glorious Goodwood.

Nassau Stakes Race Preview and Betting Tips

The Nassau Stakes is the feature race of Ladies’ Day at Glorious Goodwood. This 1 mile 2 furlong race is a chance for the best three-year-old fillies to take on their elders at the very top level. Members of the Classic generation have had the better of it in recent years but we’ve had four and five-year-old winners inside the last eight renewals so don’t discount the older runners having a major impact on this Group 1.

Hermosa Going the Wrong Way?

There is little surprise in the fact that Hermosa is the bookies’ favourite for the Nassau Stakes. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old won both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas in some style and her loss in the Coronation Stakes can probably be put down to a poor draw.

She’s clearly a high class filly but isn’t the sort to show a turn of pace out of nowhere. The thinking, therefore, is that she’ll be even better suited to a longer trip hence the step up to 10 furlongs at Goodwood. History, however, is not on her side.

Fillies making the step up in trip have a poor record in the Nassau Stakes and as good as Hermosa is, she faces a very tough task to get the better of those who are proven over the trip.

Mehdaayih Looks the Perfect Fit

Whilst horses stepping up in trip tend to find things tough in the Nassau Stakes, the opposite is true for high calibre fillies stepping down in trip. There is an argument to be had about just how class Mehdaayih is, but she can settle that once and for all at Goodwood.

The John Gosden-trained filly was running over a mile as a two-year-old and showed an aptitude for going up in distance early in her three-year-old campaign. Indeed, she was the favourite for the Epsom Oaks. As disappointing as her seventh place finish was, she has ample excuses given how much bad luck she faced in running.

Mehdaayih bounced back with victory in a Group 2 over 1 mile 4 furlongs and, providing things do to plan during the Nassau Stakes, she can right the wrong of Epsom.

Can Sun Make the Step Up?

Sir Michael Stoute’s four-year-old, Sun Maiden will have no problems getting the trip. She may have an issue with the quality of competition though. Connections held high hopes about her chances as a three-year-old which she failed to live up to. There is plenty of time left for Sun Maiden to reach her potential and she has made some fairly big steps forward this season.

She wasn’t able to hack the pack in the closing stages of the Group 2 Middleton Stakes in May but has subsequently won a Listed race on turf and a Group 3 on the all weather. This is a big task but Sun Maiden looks worth an each way bet at nice odds of 12/1 with Paddy Power.

Betting Predictions

The battle between Hermosa and Mehdaayih is a fascinating one right at the top of the Nassau Stakes betting. Whichever side you’re on, you can’t help but look forward to this one. The trends and the odds suggest that Mehdaayih represents the best value bet in the race at 4/1 with Coral. She certainly has a great chance to prove her class.

Previous Winners

2018 – Wild Illusion– jockey William Buick, trainer Charlie Appleby
2017 – Winter– jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2016 – Minding– jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2015 – Legatissimo – jockey Wayne Lordan, trainer David Wachman
2014 – Sultanina – jockey William Buick, trainer John Gosden
2013 – Winsili – jockey William Buick, trainer John Gosden
2012 – The Fugue – jockey Richard Hughes, trainer John Gosden
2011 – Midday – jockey Tom Queally, trainer Sir Henry Cecil
2010 – Midday – jockey Tom Queally, trainer Sir Henry Cecil
2009 – Midday – jockey Tom Queally, trainer Sir Henry Cecil
2008 – Halfway To Heaven – jockey Johnny Murtagh , trainer Aidan O’Brien
2007 – Peeping Fawn – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Aidan O’Brien
2006 – Ouija Board – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Ed Dunlop

Nassau Stakes History and Multiple Winners

First run in 1840, the title of the race stems not from a famous individual or racehorse of yesteryear but in fact after the House of Orange-Nassau, which founded the Dutch monarchy. The 5th Duke of Richmond owned Goodwood racecourse for a time and this race commemorates his close links with the Dutch Royal House.

Given the roots of the race’s title, 1847 winner Clementina was perhaps the most aptly named of the early winners. In terms of ability and versatility it is undoubtedly 1854 winner Virago who tops the pile amongst the 18th century winners. Winning not just this race but the same season’s Goodwood Cup, 1000 Guineas, Yorkshire Oaks and Doncaster Cup, she swept all before her in her three year old campaign, even managing to fit a win over three miles into her schedule.

A number of runners have headed into this race having previously contested the Pretty Polly Stakes over in Ireland. The Pretty Polly of that race’s title was a remarkable racehorse who took this prixe in her triple crown winning season of 1904.

In more recent times the contest has been landed by talents such as Ed Dunlop’s globe trotting star Ouija Board, one of Kingmambo’s greatest daughters, Russian Rhythm and the remarkable Midday who landed the spoils a record three years in succession between 2009 and 2011 for Sir Henry Cecil.

Jockey and Trainer Records

It is Cecil who is the most successful trainer with eight wins in total. As of 2017 Sir Michael Stoute was hot on his heels with seven wins. The Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combo may have been successful back to back in 2016 and 2017 but the pair still have a long way to go to catch the Nassau greats.

Those are Moore’s only wins in the race but top jockey honours are split between Nat Flatman who posted six wins between 1842 and 1859 and Sir Gordon Richards who recorded his haul between 1933 and 1951.