Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore dominated day three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Thursday with Opera Singer winning the Group 1 Nassau Stakes. A Group 1 winning juvenile, the daughter of Justify was held up during the winter/spring having incurred a setback before reappearing in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May. Third behind Fallen Angel on that occasion, the Ballydoyle filly improved on that effort when filling second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She progressed again here making all under Moore before sticking on well to fend off the late challenge of See The Fire. The step up to ten furlongs played to her strengths and she is likely to improve again over a mile and a half. Depending on the ground, she could tackle the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp (15th September) next before a possible tilt at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe or the Fillies & Mares at the Breeders' Cup.
Earlier on the card, Jan Brueghel maintained his unbeaten record with another gutsy display in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes. The well bred son of Galileo was forced to carry a penalty having won a similar event at the Curragh at the end of June and he got warm beforehand. Chasing longtime leader Meydaan, he led over two furlongs before battling on gallantly to beat the 109 rated Bellum Justum by a neck. Learning all the time, the Ballydoyle colt didn't make his debut until late May and has come a long way in a short space of time. Suggested at 16/1 for the St Leger in the Royal Ascot Update, he will head to Town Moor (14th September) as a leading contender. Now as short as 3/1 in places, he needs to improve again but his breeding suggests he will over an extra two furlongs.
In between watching the action from the Sussex Downs, I interviewed Jamie Snowden for One Jump Ahead. Nicky Henderson's former assistant has sent out 49, 44 and 47 winners during the last three seasons. The ill-fated Datsalrightgino won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, while Colonel Harry was a Grade 2 winning novice chaser for the stable last winter. The Lambourn based operation have added to their squad during the summer with new additions from Ireland and France. Expect more of the same this term from the Snowden outfit.
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