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SOME top-notch fillies and mares take centre stage on Day Three of Glorious Goodwood in the Group One Nassau Stakes (3.35pm).
All eyes will be on Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten filly DIAMOND NECKLACE as she bids to take her career record to a perfect six-from-six and land a fourth Group One in the process.
She made no mistake in three starts as a two-year-old, winning her maiden at the Curragh, landing a Listed race at Leopardstown, before signing off the season with her first top-level success in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
This season, two further raids to France have produced Group One honours, firstly when dominating in the French 1000 Guineas and then just shading the verdict in the French Oaks at Chantilly.
That was her first attempt over 10 furlongs and while she had to battle to get to the front, she stayed on strongly and was firmly on top at the line.
More improvement can be expected, and, in receipt of the three-year-old weight allowance, she will take a huge amount of beating.
She has more Group One successes to her name than the rest of the field combined, which is impressive considering she is taking on older horses here for the first time.
Indeed, the only other Group One winner is the John and Thady Gosden-trained FRIENDLY SOUL, who won the Prix de l’Opera at the back end of last season.
She suffered an unfortunate reappearance when stumbling and nearly coming down at Haydock, but it didn’t seem to affect her performance last time, when third behind Blue Bolt in Group Two company at Ascot.
That form needs improving upon if she is to get the better of Diamond Necklace, but she is the most likely to chase home the Ballydoyle filly and I’ll play them in that order in a straight forecast (Exacta) with World Pool.
The day begins with the Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap (1.50pm) where I like the claims of CIARRAI ABU.
Goodwood form is often worth its weight in gold and Harry Eustace’s gelding has already won and finished a close fourth in two starts on the Sussex Downs.
He built upon that fourth on handicap debut to win at Ascot last time, leading right on the line over a mile, and now looks ready for this step up to one-mile-two-furlongs.
He’s well-drawn in stall two, and can continue his rise through the handicap with a win here, so he’s one to play Win and Place with World Pool.
Punters betting with the Tote can access the deep liquidity of World Pool, offering frequent overpays when compared to fixed odds starting prices.
It’s hard to escape the claims of FLANN SUNNA in the Group Two Richmond Stakes (2.25pm).
Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt has won both his starts with the minimum of fuss and was particularly impressive when winning by nearly five lengths at Ascot last time.
He can prove a cut above main rivals Cut A Dash and Night In Vegas.
The Group Three Gordon Stakes (3.00pm) can be a race that throws up a high-class three-year-old.
BAY OF BRILLIANCE had threatened to be in that echelon when narrowly beaten by Maltese Cross in the Lingfield Derby Trial and then running fourth in the Derby.
He did blot his copybook last time in the German Derby but that was run on very soft ground.
It’s worth forgiving that one bad effort, particularly with Maltese Cross going on to win a Group One this month, and Bay Of Brilliance could bounce back now returned to a faster surface.
POINTERS THURSDAY
Ciarrai Abu (Win and Place) 1.50pm Goodwood
Flann Sunna (Win) 2.25pm Goodwood
Bay Of Brilliance (Win) 3.00pm Goodwood
Diamond Necklace, Friendly Soul (Exacta) 3.35pm Goodwood
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