Winsili lands Nassau surprise at Goodwood

Winsili came out best in an incident-packed renewal of the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The 20-1 chance was giving John Gosden back-to-back wins in the Group One feature after The Fugue last year as she held Thistle Bird in a driving finish. But in behind 7-4 favourite Sky Lantern lost all chance when meeting serious traffic problems around the furlong marker, while early on in the race Just Pretending appeared to nearly charter an erroneous path at the head of affairs before Seamie Heffernan took corrective action.

Winning rider William Buick said: “She didn’t stay a mile and a half in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. She’s not easy and the whole team do a great job.

“I got a nice run through and she was very game. it’s been an up and down week so it’s nice to finish on a high.

“I had plenty of room in straight and she travelled so well. I decided to take my time as she has a nice turn of foot. The hood just helps her focus.”

Richard Hannon's domination of the week was completed with a final-day double through Pether's Moon and Art Official.

It was simply a case of Richard Hughes waiting for the gap aboard three-year-old Pether’s Moon (4-1) in the RAC Handicap and the pair got past Salutation with plenty of time to spare, scoring by a length and a quarter.

Hughes did, however, pick up a two-day ban (August 17th and 18th) for careless riding.

Hannon said: “He (Pether’s Moon) won’t do too much this year — he’s in the Ebor but won’t go there. I suppose he’ll step up to a Listed or Group race but he’ll be a proper horse next year, maybe even a Cup horse.”

The Everleigh trainer equalled his best Goodwood tally of nine as Art Official (11-4 favourite) impressed under a fine front-running ride from Hughes, who was recording his eighth success, in the Fairmont Nursery.

A neck was the winning margin over the late-closing Shot In The Sun but the 11-4 favourite can be rated better than that as he was keen early and had seen off a number of challengers before Richard Fahey’s filly arrived on the scene.

Hannon’s son and assistant Richard jnr said: “He’s a nice big horse that we’ve always liked. He’ll run one or two more times, but he’ll be very nice next year.”

Marcus Tregoning has a horse to look forward to after Snow Trouble stayed on well in the NatWest Ahead For Business EBF Maiden Stakes in the hands of Johnny Murtagh.

A promising third on debut at Kempton when the penny dropped late in the day, the 100,000 guineas purchase built on that with a neck defeat of Gerard Butler’s newcomer Master The World, who belied his odds of 40-1. Always handy, the grey (3-1) edged to the front a furlong out and was always just doing enough despite being strongly pressed.

Tregoning said: “This is our first juvenile winner of the season — we haven’t quite got the ammunition but we’ll get it again. He’s entered in the Dewhurst Stakes and the Royal Lodge and I should think it will be the latter. Johnny is very keen we go for that race.

“It’s great to come here and get a winner because it’s my favourite meeting. It’s been a very tough week, although we had a nice third with Boom And Bust (in the Lennox Stakes) which was really thrilling.”

Connections of Seeking Magic picked up plenty of consolation in the Robins Farm Racing Stewards' Sprint Handicap. The race framed for those who missed out in the Stewards' Cup itself saw the main protagonists switch from high draws to fight out the finish on the far rail.

It was the 16-1 chance, partnered by smart apprentice Ryan Tate, who prevailed by a nose from the positively-ridden Take Cover.

“I’m delighted, he has been placed in this race before and while the plan was the main race and I was disappointed he didn’t make the cut, I’m very happy to win this,” said trainer Clive Cox. “He might be a Portland horse now, but we’ll play it by ear.”

Brian Gubby's Pal Of The Cat was no friend of punters in the last, as the 20-1 chance pipped fellow outsider Jillnextdoor by a short head in the Telegraph Handicap.