Simon Holt: Glorious Goodwood day three tips

Horse Racing

Thu August 03, 2017 · 7y ago

Top commentator Simon Holt previews day three of Glorious Goodwood and he has a strong fancy in the Nassau Stakes.

Recommended Bets: Simon Holt Glorious Goodwood Day Three

2pts win So Mi Dar 3.35 Goodwood at best-morning price

2pts win Endless Time 2.25 Goodwood at best-morning price

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SO MI DAR, the choice of Frankie Dettori, is taken to make a winning return to action in Thursday's Group One Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in which she bids to successfully concede 8lb in weight-for-age to the dual Guineas and Royal Ascot winner Winter.

John Gosden's four-year-old may have suffered the odd setback in the past 12 months, and this is her first outing since looking unlucky in the Prix de l'Opera at Chantilly last October, but she has an excellent record when fresh.

In France, So Mi Dar was travelling strongly but caught without daylight on the inside and, despite running on well once switched, she was never able to reel in Speedy Boarding and Pleascach. She must have gone close there with better luck in running.

Earlier, denied a Classic run after a convincing win in the Musidora Stakes last May, she reappeared at Yarmouth four months later to give 4lb and a comfortable beating to Nezwaah who, recently successful in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh, now reopposes on level terms.

Dettori had a choice here between So Mi Dar and the talented three-year-old Shutter Speed and the fact he has gone for the selection suggests she will be well tuned up for this prestigious contest while the latter could be taken out if conditions become too soft.

Frankie Dettori has been winning in the rain lately

Of course, Winter will be hard to beat. She was very impressive in both the English and Irish Guineas and again when taking the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, on the latter two occasions from stable-companion Roly Poly who has since won both the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild.

While Roly Poly may have bloomed since Royal Ascot, it is difficult to find many holes in Winter except to say this is her first try at a mile-and-a-quarter and, while her sire Galileo is obviously a strong stamina influence, the dam Laddies Poker Two, a Wokingham winner, was a sprinter.

Moreover, this looks a powerful line-up and, while facing her toughest task to date, she seems sure to start a short price.

Last year's runner-up Queens Trust will be another tough opponent after her eye-catching fourth behind Highland Reel in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, staying on strongly having been hampered in the early stages.

Sir Michael Stoute's filly has won only two of her 10 starts but one of those came in the Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November and she ran well in this race last year to chase home a possibly below-par Minding.

However, fast ground seems to suit Queens Trust well and, if the forecasted rain changes conditions, that may not be to her advantage.

Godolphin field two very useful fillies in Sobetsu and Wuheida with William Buick plumping for the latter.

Wuheida, winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly last autumn, had a setback earlier in the year but returned to chase home Roly Poly in the Falmouth over a mile.

She has something to find with Winter on that form, but this step up in trip seems bound to suit her.

Meanwhile, lack of stamina was the clear downfall of Sobetsu in the Oaks over a mile-and-a-half after her very fluent win in the Prix Saint Alary at Deauville in May.

James Doyle's mount has looked very smart on more than one occasion but ground conditions may be important to her, and the more rain the better.

Earlier, the 'boys in blue' have a strong claim on the Markel Insurance Fillies Stakes with ENDLESS TIME whose best form, in particular two Group One seconds behind Left Hand and the top French stayer Vazirabad last season, looks some way superior to her rivals.

However, the daughter of Sea The Stars has been much less effective on quickish ground, finishing well beaten behind Seventh Heaven in last August's Yorkshire Oaks and was again below her best (though might not have stayed) when well beaten in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Providing the rains arrive and conditions are not too fast, Endless Time must have a great chance here dropped into a Group Three and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

Posted at 1208 BST on 02/08/17.