Minding Overcomes Trouble for Nassau Win

Minding showed her class to tally her sixth win at the top level July 30 at Goodwood when she took the Qatar Nassau Stakes (Eng-I), Europe's richest race for fillies and mares, by 1 1/4 lengths from Queen's Trust.

Rated along the rail, Minding tracked the two front-runners in the early stages and Ryan Moore attempted to move the filly to running room three furlongs out, but had to snatch her up when she was shut off by Beautiful Romance and shuffled back to last.

Coolmore and partners' daughter of Galileo, the 1-5 favorite, did not show an instant turn of foot, but found plenty all the way to the line to record a workmanlike success. She is the third Nassau winner for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Pour Moi Coolmore Saint-Alary (Fr-I) victress Jemayel finish third, another 1 1/4 lengths back behind 16-1 longshot Queen's Trust, who kept up a sustained rally but could not overtake the winner.

Pacesetter Swiss Range and Beautiful Romance completed the order of finish.

Minding finished the 1 1/4-mile trip in 2:05.05 good to firm turf for her seventh win from 10 starts that include her classic double this year in the Investec Epsom Oaks and QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (both Eng-I). She was a dual group I winner last year at age 2 and was named the Europe's champion of her division.  

With Minding's victory Saturday, O'Brien again achieved the big-race double at the Qatar Goodwood Festival following The Gurkha's neck success in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) Aug. 3.  He accomplished the feat previously with Henrythenavigator and Halfway To Heaven in 2008.

"She is a great traveler. She quickens very well. She stays very well," said O'Brien, who won also won the Nassau with Peeping Fawn in 2007. "She looks after herself when she gets to the front. She is thriving and she has a great mind. She is an unusual filly who can cruise, relax, and quicken. She has always been a big powerful filly, but physically she is doing very well. She was big, strong, and powerful today."

 

Minding was a facile 4 1/2-length winner in the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I), when she took on older opponents for the first time June 26 at the Curragh.

Minding was bred in Ireland by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt from Coolmore and partners' group I winner Lillie Langtry, also the dam of Kissed by Angels, a full sister to Minding.