Big shock as Japan's Deirdre upsets Mehdaayih and Frankie Dettori in Nassau
Deirdre, a 20-1 shot, provided a momentous and historic triumph for Japan in the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, sneaking up the rail to thwart the challenge of Mehdaayih and Frankie Dettori for trainer Mitsuru Hashida under jockey Oisin Murphy.
The five-year-old, who found soft ground not to her liking when sixth behind Crystal Ocean in the Prince of Wales's Stakes last time, relished the return to better going to stay on dourly from the rear, obliging by a length and a quarter from the front-running Mehdaayih.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Rawdaa was third ahead of stablemate Sun Maiden in fourth, with 13-8 favourite Hermosa disappointing in fifth.
A delighted Murphy said: "This is a dream come true and a massive day for Japan. I'm delighted to have done the steering. I'm absolutely thrilled that all the hard work has been rewarded.
A Grade 1 winner in her native Japan in the 2017 Shuka Sho at Kyoto, the Nassau victory adds a second top-level success and a first overseas to the burgeoning CV of Deirdre.
Red-hot Battaash goes for King George Stakes hat-trick at favourite course
Battaash: undefeated and impressive in two starts at Goodwood
3.35 Goodwood
King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) | 5f, 3yo+ | ITV/RTV
Battaash and Goodwood, it is the perfect combination; like strawberries and cream or Pimm's and sunshine. This racecourse is his dominium and when he runs here he is utterly breathtaking.
Last year Goodwood provided the one moment we saw the 'real' Battaash as he exhibited raw speed and power that his rivals could not live with. It had been the same the year before when he slammed his opponents in an equally impressive display.
As such, he arrives this year seeking to surpass Take Cover, Lochsong, Right Boy and Abernant by winning this race for a third time. On paper, it looks like a formality for Hamdan Al Maktoum's five-year-old, but trainer Charlie Hills is not letting complacency set in.
"We're approaching it the same as we approach any race with him," Hills said. "He's the right horse for the race, it's the right track for him and his preparation has been very good.
"It's never been won three times before, so it would be great to do it with him and he's obviously got an outstanding chance."
Battaash: goes clear in last year's King George Stakes
Battaash: goes clear in last year's King George Stakes
Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Battaash has produced two of his three highest RPRs at Goodwood, including a best of 129 in last year's race, and Hills added: "He's a very agile, athletic horse and he loves the contours of the track as they let him carry his speed through the race.
"It's a sprint race and a split-second decision can have a potentially big impact so we have to approach it the right way, but we're really looking forward to the race."
What they say
Tim Palin, syndicate manager at Middleham Park Racing, co-owners of Copper Knight
If the real Battaash turns up then we're all playing for second at best, but we've never been afraid of one horse. It's a speed-biased five furlongs and that suits his style. He might not be a genuine Group 2 horse, but when you've got an in-form sprint handicapper rated at the level he is, there's not a lot between those top sprint handicaps and Group races.
John Quinn, trainer of El Astronaute
He's been in wonderful form and ran into a really good filly at the Curragh last time. He beat the others well and he's done very little wrong all season. He's won at Goodwood and I'm very happy with him. Battaash will be hard to beat but it’s racing and anything can happen, so we’ll give it a go and see what we can do.
Steve Brown, husband of Julie Camacho, trainer of Judicial
He's been unlucky in his last few starts in that it's rained not long before the race, and that's meant the ground was loose on top, which he doesn't like. Battaash is the standout, but on the rest of our form we're pretty close with the others. We think he's in really good form and we're looking forward to the race.
Houtzen: running for the first time for trainer Martyn Meade
Houtzen: running for the first time for trainer Martyn Meade
Edward Whitaker
Martyn Meade, trainer of Houtzen
She's settled in really well with me and I've been pleased with what I've seen since she arrived. On her home work she's more than entitled to be there, and she has a great attitude to her work and life in general. She was unlucky at Ascot [when she slipped at the start] but she seems to be thriving.
Henry Candy, trainer of Rebecca Rocks
She's quick and she's won at the course before, so they're positives. Hopefully she can pick up a bit more black type by finishing in the places.
Richard Spencer, trainer of Rumble Inthejungle
He's come out of his last race well and he's a course-and-distance winner from last year, so that's helpful. If the ground continues to dry up, hopefully he'll run a good race.
Francois Rohaut, trainer of Big Brothers Pride
She was sick a fortnight before Ascot so we didn't want to take the risk when she wasn't 100 per cent. Everything cleared up very quickly. She's back in good form now, but we'll have to see how she handles the travelling and the track, while we all know how good Battaash is at Goodwood. I need to run her to give her experience and to see how she measures up at this level.
Exciting Jubiloso looks to continue rise to stardom in Oak Tree Stakes
Jubiloso: a winner of two of her three starts
1.50 Goodwood
Theo Fennell Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3) | 7f, 3yo+ | ITV/RTV
The well-regarded Jubiloso, who was a fine third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, bids to establish herself as a leading force in the fillies' division with victory in the Theo Fennell Oak Tree Stakes.
Her reputation, and indeed the impression she made with a seven-length novice success at Newbury, saw her go off 9-2 second favourite for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes in June, and she shaped with plenty of encouragement behind Watch Me.
Sir Michael Stoute has taken a typically patient approach with the daughter of Shamardal, who is looking to give her owner Khalid Abdullah a fourth win in the Oak Tree since 2003.
Teddy Grimthorpe, the owner's racing manager, said: "She's been a progressive filly. She went to the Coronation on only her third start.
"Her inexperience slightly told in the end, but she still ran a superb race to be third. It's been straightforward since then, although this looks a high-quality field and it's not a gimme."
Royal Intervention seeks another Group 3 success
Frankie Dettori won the Sussex Stakes wearing Lord Lloyd-Webber's colours on Too Darn Hot on Wednesday, and the pair combine again with Royal Intervention.
The Ed Walker-trained three-year-old battled well to land the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York last month, but carries a 3lb penalty and must overcome a disadvantageous wide draw.
Walker said: "She's got a terrible draw but with her style of running hopefully Frankie can pull her out and overcome that draw pretty quickly.
"She's stepping up to seven and we're looking to experiment with the trip. She's got to carry a penalty for winning at York but is in great shape so we are looking forward to seeing her run."
Billesdon Brook primed with conditions in her favour
Last year's 1,000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook has not hit those heights since, but she has a good record at Goodwood and is looking for a third course victory.
Trainer Richard Hannon said: "She's won twice around here and been placed so there's no doubt she loves the place and her last two runs have been excellent. The drop back to seven furlongs isn't an issue."
What they say
William Haggas, trainer of Pretty Baby, Island Of Life and Solar Gold
When you have three runners you hope one of them might land a decent draw but they haven't. To make matters even harder the favourite is drawn six and the second favourite [Angel's Hideaway] is drawn one. We can safely write ours off, sadly.
Mick Channon, trainer of Dan's Dream
She's in good form although she didn't get on very well at Ascot – I think that was too far for her anyway. She seems in great heart but I hope it doesn't dry out too much for her
David O'Meara, trainer of Perfection
She ran really well in Ireland last time and looked like she was going to come and win but didn't quite get there.
Alex Pantall, trainer of Devant
She's at her best over seven furlongs. The filly is well and with plenty of runners I hope she can relax a little and then use her finishing kick. She was very unlucky last time out at Maisons-Laffitte.
Martyn Meade, trainer of Lyzbeth
It's a big step up for her, but she won her maiden well last time and we've always thought she was a Group horse. She's got lots of talent and we think it's a good race to try her out in.
It's not impossible to win the Unibet Golden Mile Handicap at Goodwood (3.00) from a double-figure draw, as Wentworth and Laa Rayb have proved in the last ten years, but it does make life incredibly difficult.
Consequently, it's hard to suggest backing my original fancies Afaak and Dark Vision from their wide draws and instead it's safer to side with something drawn nearer the inside rail.
That brings in the the likes of Game Player and What's The Story, but the three I like most are Mojito from stall nine, Beat Le Bon from three and Baltic Baron in six.
Mojito could still have plenty in hand of the handicapper having landed a gamble on his return from a long absence in a similar race at Sandown last month.
He's quite rightly at the head of the market but might not get things his own way in front this time and Goodwood is a totally different track.
Beat Le Bon has to go well given he is proven at the track and arrives in tremendous form having won his last two starts, including when coming from a seemingly impossible position at Haydock over 7f last time.
He will appreciate the step up to a mile and has a similar profile to Wentworth, who won this race as a three-year-old for the Hannon yard in 2013.
Given his style of racing he will need luck but so will the rest of the field, and if Pat Dobbs can find the gaps he will go close.
David O'Meara and Danny Tudhope won the big-field handicap on the opening day with Fayez and they team up with Baltic Baron, who has finished second far too often.
However, he has shaped as though he's capable of winning a big race like this and the application of a visor could make the difference.
Baltic Baron travels well, so should find a good early position without many issues and, like Beat Le Bon, if the gaps come he can win.
His stablemate Escobar, who was joint-favourite for the race last year, has a great chance too. He is a much shorter price than Baltic Baron, though, and has a worse draw.
The draw will be just as important in the Theo Fennell Oak Tree Stakes (1.50) and the favourite Jubiloso has done well with stall six.
The drop back to 7f will suit her well and she is just about the form pick on her third in the Coronation Stakes over a mile last time.
She will probably win, but Angel's Hideaway is an extremely talented filly herself having been beaten less than two lengths by Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas and the same again in the Jersey Stakes last time.
A bit like Baltic Baron, Angel's Hideaway doesn't win as often as she should, but 7f on fast ground is perfect for her and she has stall one too.
It's hard to see Battaash being beaten in the King George Qatar Stakes (3.35) given how brilliant he has looked at this track. Maybe Big Brothers Pride will chase him home as she looked really good in France on her last start but has had some issues since.
It's no surprise the bookies aren't taking any chances in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (2.25), with seven of the 11 runners priced within a couple of points of each other.
Duke Of Hazzard looked much improved in headgear at Newmarket last time and might be the one, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on it.
Juddmonte pair look tough to beat despite skinny odds
Jubiloso
1.50 Goodwood
SP forecast 6-4
An improving Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old who caught the eye with an easy debut success on the all-weather (four subsequent winners behind), before boosting her already tall reputation with a seven-length romp at Newbury. Tasted defeat for the first time in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but that is by far the best piece of form in this line-up. Now drops back to 7f.
Conclusion No value in her price but is by far the likeliest winner and I wouldn't want to take her on.
Mirage Dancer
4.40 Goodwood
SP forecast 4-5
Reliable five-year-old son of Frankel who is often competitive at Group 2 level, but drops in class in a bid to retain his crown in this race following a three-and-a-half-length success last year. He's unbeaten in three starts over this course and distance and 2lb clear of his nearest rival in this year's reunning on official ratings. Recent placed efforts at Ascot and Newmarket suggest he's in peak condition.
Conclusion Strong contender who should be suited by one of the Mark Johnston-trained runners giving him a lead into the race. Back.
Billesdon Brook, the shock 1,000 Guineas winner last year, gets up on the line to notch her third victory at Goodwood, breaking the track record in the process. Frankie Dettori came off Royal Intervention after the line but is quickly to his feet. Favourite "Jubiloso had a troubled passage" and finished third.
