No second best for Wild Illusion after confident Nassau Stakes win at Goodwood

Having been initially reluctant to go into the stalls, the filly was first out and capitalised on a slow pace to win under William Buick ahead of Urban Fox and Veracious in second and third respectively.

Only six runners came forward for Group 1 contest for Fillies and Mares which is also part of the British Champions Series. But the small field and slow pace of the race suited Appleby’s three-year-old who was in no mood to play second fiddle and dictated matters from the start.

Urban Fox, ridden by Daniel Tudhope, was always in contention by running in second for much of the race and stuck on well, but Wild Illusion fought on bravely in the final furlong for Buick to win by two lengths.

Having been second to Forever Together in the Investec Oaks at Epsom and also runner-up behind Magic Wand in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, this was the horse’s second Group 1 after winning the Prix Marcel Boussac as a juvenile. She also became the fourth three-year-old to win the Nassau after the victories of Legatissimo, Minding and Winter.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Veracious, ridden by Frankie Dettori who was back in the saddle after suspension, was keen in the early stages and only a short head’s distance behind the runner-up. Lockinge winner Rhododendron was sent off as favourite but Aidan O’Brien’s mare put in another forgettable performance in finishing last.

Speaking afterwards, Appleby said: “I was happy going into Ascot but the quicker ground was a concern, whereas there’s still a bit of moisture in this ground.
“Dropping back in trip was going to help and I thought William [Buick] was very good on the front end, I encouraged him to serve it up to them.”

There was better luck for O’Brien and his jockey Ryan Moore in the Richmond Stakes as Lands Force landed the prize in the Group 2 contest for colts and geldings. Success came by a margin of a length ahead of the Mark Johnston-trained Marie’s Diamond, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, in second and Shine So Bright in third.

However the Johnston and De Sousa combination were triumphant in the day’s opener, the Matchbook Best Value Exchange Handicap. Here it was the favourite Communique who came in a length and a half in front of the Appleby-trained Zaman – ridden by William Buick – in second and Global Giant in third.

Johnston then made it a double in the penultimate race of the day, the EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stake. This time it was P J McDonald at the helm to steer Accordance to a three-quarter of a length success over Andrew Balding’s Rux Power in second and the Jeremy Noseda-trained Lady Cosette, again with Buick on board, in third.

There was a Stewards inquiry required in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes which went to the Roger Varian-trained Pilaster.

David Egan had guided the horse first past the post by a short head’s distance from Maid Up in second and Star Rock in third, and those places remained unaltered after the post-race Stewards inquiry.