Minding to Go for Sixth GI Win in Nassau

Dual English classic winner Minding headlines 10 confirmations for the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes (Eng-I), Europe's richest race for fillies and mares, July 30, the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The Galileo filly, raced by Coolmore and partners, has five group I wins including classic triumphs this year in the Investec Epsom Oaks June 3 at Epsom Downs, QIPCO One Thousand Guineas May 1 at Newmarket, and Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last time out June 26. Her trainer, Aidan O'Brien, chasing a third success in the Nassau, also has group I winners Alice Springs and Ballydoyle still eligible at the five-day confirmation stage July 25 for the 1 1/4-mile race.

Sir Michael Stoute is out to match the late Sir Henry Cecil's record of eight victories in the Nassau Stakes with Cheveley Park Stud's promising homebred Queen's Trust. The 3-year-old by Dansili who has won win in four starts was hampered when fourth in a 10-furlong listed race May 14 at Newbury, and then flew home to fill the same position in the 1 1/2-mile Ribblesdale Stakes (Eng-II) in June at Royal Ascot.

"She is an improving filly and we feel that she has been a bit unlucky so far," Cheveley Park Stud  racing manager Chris Richardson said. "Sir Michael is adamant that she should be competing at the top level and, whilst I appreciate Minding might be an impossible filly to beat, if you are not in you cannot win.

"I don't think the drop back in trip will be a problem. The family were specialists over 10 furlongs and, although she looked better the further she went at Ascot, she has got a turn of foot."

Another Newmarket trainer, John Gosden, has won three of the last four runnings of the Nassau Stakes and could have Swiss Range for Saturday's race. The Khalid Abdullah homebred announced herself with a pair of impressive victories at Newmarket in the spring but could only finish eighth in the Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks) last time out.

Other Qatar Nassau Stakes entries include French challenger Jemayel (Jean Claude Rouget), winner of the Prix Saint Alary (Fr-I) in May, plus Hawksmoor (Hugo Palmer) and Beautiful Romance (Saeed bin Suroor), who have both captured group II races this season. Course winners Bateel and Carnachy (both David Simcock) complete the potential field.