Whirl earns Breeders' Cup slot with Nassau win at Goodwood

6-5 favorite Whirl, owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier, won the Group 1 Nassau Stakes by five lengths at the Goodwood festival Thursday in unprecedented conditions.

 

With the win, Whirl gained a guaranteed start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

 

The 1 1/4-mile Nassau was run on heavy ground because of a severe deluge that struck the Sussex track moments before the race, with about 1.02 inches of rain falling in just 20 minutes. Because of flashes of lightning occurring while the horses were circling at the start, a flag start was required, the first since the introduction of starting stalls in the 1960s.

 

Ryan Moore capitalized aboard Whirl, pinching almost six lengths from certain runners. The Ballydoyle 3-year-old never lost the lead and crossed the post five lengths clear of the pack, proving her versatility and resolve.

 

After the race, winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “I can’t remember a race without stalls. She’s an amazing filly. She’s a (Coolmore) homebred, by Wootton Basset. She gets any type of ground, something she roved today.

 

“In the spring, we set up all our fillies at home and she came out in front. She’s just very good.”

 

Asked about her participation in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), O’Brien replied: “Depends what the lads want to do with her. She can go to the Arc, or she can miss it. Or she can go to France for the Arc trials. She is so straightforward she has so many options. She could also go to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. That would be a different type of test.”

 

Ryan Moore added her progressive attributes: “The start wasn't ideal. She just keeps doing what she says she's going to do, she’s very uncomplicated and has loads of ability. She stays well, can handle quick ground and can handle slow ground. Aidan called her a racing machine, and this filly just keeps progressing over time.”

 

Cercene, owned by Shane R. Stafford, finished second, proving her apparent surprise 33-1 win in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot was no fluke. Before Thursday's race, her trainer admitted she would have preferred quicker ground, but she handled less-than-ideal conditions impressively.

 

The much fancied See The Fire, owned by Jeff Smith, finished third after losing roughly six lengths to Whirl at the start after threatening to plant. Trainer Andrew Balding warned that the heavy going was not ideal for the 4-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars.

 

The winning time of the five-runner field was 2.08.43.