Black-Type Analysis: Whirl and See The Fire Primed for Nassau Face-Off

[Wandering Eyes]

Thursday, Goodwood, post time: 15:05, QATAR NASSAU STAKES-G1, £600,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT

Field: Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion), See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Cercene (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Three-year-olds have generally dominated of late and after the performance of Kalpana at Ascot on Saturday it is hard to make a solid case against Whirl continuing that trend. The way she put away the Juddmonte filly in the Pretty Polly suggests she has improved since the Oaks and with her pedigree it is almost a given that there is more there. If this was at York, See The Fire would be closer to the favourite in the betting, but it is worth remembering that she was a neck second to Ballydoyle's Opera Singer in this 12 months ago. Aidan O'Brien's other runner Bedtime Story has been at the top, come down and is now working her way back up in the right manner judged on her Diane second, while the Coronation heroine Cercene adds more Irish menace. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Goodwood, post time: 13:55, MARKEL RICHMOND STAKES-G2, £175,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT

Field: Azizam (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Chicago Call (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Coppull (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Egoli (GB) (No Nay Never), Havana Hurricane (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), Maximized (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Underwriter (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: An open renewal, with the Coventry third Coppull bidding to provide Clive Cox with a third in seven years. Back over the trip at which he was second to Maximized in Epsom's Woodcote Stakes, the Windsor Castle winner Havana Hurricane brings valuable experience to the mix, as does Ballydoyle's maiden Puerto Rico, who was no match for the yard's all-conquering filly True Love in The Curragh's G2 Railway Stakes. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Goodwood, post time: 14:30, HKJC WORLD POOL GORDON STAKES-G3, £200,000, 3yo, 11f 218yT

Field: Galveston (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Merchant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Too Soon (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko), Windlord (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Having captured Royal Ascot's Group-race in disguise, the King George V Stakes winner Merchant now enters the Pattern-race fray for real taking on a host of three-year-olds who are relatively journeyed at this stage. Looking to the St Leger, the Irish Derby fifth Sir Dinadan has the staying power to continue down that route and has course form having been second to his stable's high-flyer Amiloc in the Listed Cocked Hat in May. [Tom Frary].

Friday, Goodwood, post time: 15:05, THE KING GEORGE QATAR STAKES-G2, £317,000, 3yo/up, 5fT

Field: Clarendon House (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Jm Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), Kerdos (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Manaccan (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Spartan Arrow (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Time For Sandals (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}), Frost At Dawn (Frosted), She's Quality (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Town And Country (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: After an outstanding effort over a trip too far in the July Cup, Big Mojo is back over his ideal trip at the track at which he captured the Molecomb 12 months ago for the same connections of last year's winner Big Evs. Beaten a short head last year, Asfoora should be in the mix again while the Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals will relish a strong pace to run at dropping in trip for the first time since finishing third in the 2024 Weatherbys Super Sprint. [Tom Frary].

Friday, Goodwood, post time: 13:55, THE BONHAMS THOROUGHBRED STAKES-G3, £100,000, 3yo, 8fT

Field: Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), King Of Cities (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Spectacular View (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Cosmic Year has to bounce back from a below-par effort in the Prix Jean Prat and he'll have to if Opera Ballo is still in the same form he was in when winning the Listed Heron Stakes and Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. Juddmonte's exciting colt had looked on the up when second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and deserves another chance back at a mile. [Tom Frary].

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