By Peter Moore at Goodwood Thursday 31st July 2025
Aidan O’Brien bagged yet another Group 1 on foreign soil after Whirl powered through the driving rain in the Qatar Nassau Stakes in treacheries conditions at Goodwood on Thursday.
With the going changed drastically from Good to Firm to Heavy after thunder and torrential rain hit the course after the second race of the afternoon, the seven participants lined up with a flag start in operation.
Ryan Moore aboard Whirl anticipated the start ahead of the others and duly let Whirl bowl along in front. There was never a moment in doubt with Moore moving across to the near side rail to go on and win impressively by five lengths from Cercene, also trained in Ireland by Joseph G Murphy.
After witnessing another Moore masterclass in simplicity, O’Brien spoke from a sodden winner’s enclosure with genuine fondness for an improving filly who seems to have taken even the master trainer by surprise. He was also unable to remember a Group 1 beginning without stalls, describing the unconventional start as “unbelievable”.
“She’s understated – that’s just her nature,” said O’Brien. “She’s been coming along in the shadows and nothing seems to bother her. She’s hardy and keeps turning up. She’s pretty unusual and has an unbelievable mind. She didn’t even know she’d had a race.”
There were signs she could be above average and O’Brien said: “In the spring when the fillies were working, we sent them all up the gallops and who do you think came out in front? Her. And that was in the spring. She’s an absolute dream. She gets a mile and a half, handles all types of ground and Ryan gave her a lovely ride.”
There were signs she could be above average and O’Brien said: “In the spring when the fillies were working, we sent them all up the gallops and who do you think came out in front? Her. And that was in the spring. She’s an absolute dream. She gets a mile and a half, handles all types of ground and Ryan gave her a lovely ride.”
There were signs she could be above average and O’Brien said: “In the spring when the fillies were working, we sent them all up the gallops and who do you think came out in front? Her. And that was in the spring. She’s an absolute dream. She gets a mile and a half, handles all types of ground and Ryan gave her a lovely ride.”
William Haggas’s rapidly progressive colt Merchant completed a hat trick in the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes.
The Highclere owned colt chased down Wimbledon Hawkeye after being switched from the stands rail by Tom Marquand to score by a nose.
Before the thunder and heavy rain, Wathnan Racing were celebrating winning the opening race of the day with Best Secret getting up to win by a length from Marhaba Ghaiyyath.
Coventry Stakes third Coppull (5/1) scorched his way up the stands’ rail to win the G2 Markel Richmond Stakes for owner-breeder David Armstrong.
Once asked to lengthen by David Probert, he kept finding to see off Puerto Rico by two lengths with Royal Ascot winner Havana Hurricane a neck further back in third.
Charlie Bishop picked up a winning spare ride on the Alice Haynes-trained Naana’s Sparkle (15/2) in the five-furlong Buccellati Handicap.
Rowan Scott, who was booked for the ride, was unable to make it to the track, with the aircraft carrying him and several other northern-based jockeys forced to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off.
The all-conquering double act of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy were back in the winners encloser once again after Sir Albert burst through to take the 7f Phase Eight Nursery Handicap Stakes ahead of Spinning Lizzie.