Classic heroine Hermosa leads Nassau charge for O'Brien and Moore

3.35 Goodwood
Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) | 1m2f, 3yo+ fillies & mares | ITV/RTV

Dual Guineas winner Hermosa sets the standard in an intriguing Nassau Stakes which pitches some of the leading fillies from the Classic generation against their elders.

Placed three times at the top level at two, Hermosa bridged the gap to strike on the biggest stage for the first time in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and although that 14-1 success came slightly from leftfield, there was no fluke about her emphatic four-length victory in the Irish equivalent three weeks later.

She was a warm favourite to cement her status as the leading miler of her generation in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the daughter of Galileo had to settle for second behind French raider Watch Me.

She now steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time and is the market leader with Ryan Moore once again the man on board.

"Hermosa had an easy time for a while after Ascot," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "She seems in good form and it was always the plan to step her up to a mile and a quarter. We were going to do it at Ascot but decided on the Coronation instead."

Wayne Lordan rides stablemate Just Wonderful having partnered her to finish second in the US last time, and O'Brien said: "Just Wonderful ran very well when second in the Belmont Oaks on her last start, which was her first over the trip."

Hermosa pros & cons

Pros:Proven at the highest level and tops the ratings

Cons:Has to prove she is as effective over this longer trip

Improving Mehdaayih chasing maiden Group 1 win

Mehdaayih was favourite for the Investec Oaks at the end of May, but a troubled passage meant she could finish only seventh behind stablemate Anapurna.

However, that run was sandwiched between two impressive victories and she remains a highly progressive filly for the all-conquering John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team.

Mehdaayih: landing the Cheshire OaksCredit: Edward Whitaker

She stormed to a four-and-a-half-length success in the Cheshire Oaks in May and was back on track with a comfortable two-length win in a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud last time to set her up for a return to Group 1 level.

"She has done nothing wrong this year and has run extremely well every time," said Gosden. "She did have a horribly rough trip in the Oaks, which was no fault of hers, but she then won very smartly in France.

"That was a Group 2 so she is now moving up a grade, but rather than carry a penalty in another Group 2 we're coming here."

He added: "She's an athletic filly with a very positive attitude and we're hoping for a good run, but we are aware we're now going into the elite department here."

Pros:Has won four of her last five starts and is clearly an improving filly

Cons:Drops back in trip and her only previous start at Goodwood ended in defeat

Trip looks perfect for classy Maqsad

Maqsad looked like having a big say in the Oaks at Epsom before fading in the final quarter-mile, and the drop back in trip looks likely to play to her strengths.

She was a five-length winner over this distance in the Pretty Polly Stakes in May and, after only five career starts, is still open to plenty of improvement.

Although not seen since the Oaks on May 31, trainer William Haggas reports her to be back in good form for her first race in 62 days, having taken time to get over her run at Epsom.

"She ran well in the Oaks and I thought the way she finished the race was about more than her not getting the trip," said Haggas.

"She took the race badly and it's taken time to get her back. But she's very well now and I'm looking forward to running her."

Pros: Looked high class over this trip in the Pretty Polly and is certainly not short of speed

Cons:Coming back from a break when her rivals are match-fit

Graffard bids for another successful raid with Channel

Francis-Henri Graffard has already plundered a British Group 1 with a three-year-old filly this season and attempts to repeat the trick with Prix de Diane winner Channel.

Graffard masterminded the downfall of Hermosa when Watch Me landed the Coronation Stakes, and there is good reason to think he may again prove a thorn in the side of Aidan O'Brien's runner.

Having landed a conditions race at Chantilly in May, Channel leaped to the highest level with a tenacious victory over Commes in the Diane and adds intrigue to a quality contest.

Channel (rails): lands the French Oaks for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard

Her three wins have all come on ground described as good to soft and her last two victories have been over an extended mile and a quarter.

"We gave her time to recover from the French Oaks and get ready for her next target and she's in top form," said Graffard. "I didn't want to step up in trip and she's a Group 1 winner so there was no point dropping down in class and I'm confident in my filly.

"I've never been scared to travel and when my horses are good I run them. I'm aware it's difficult to be competitive in these races but if you don't try you never know. She's on the small side and very well balanced, so I'm not scared of taking this filly to Goodwood."

Pros:Looked strong in the French Oaks and trainer has a good formline through stablemate Watch Me

Cons:First start outside France and first visit to undulating Goodwood

Versatile Rawdaa riding high after Ascot second

Rawdaa comes into the Nassau after a career-best effort to finish a narrow second in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes and is proven at both a mile and a mile and a quarter.

Within 5lb of the top-rated Hermosa, Rawdaa has the stamp of an improving Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old, and the excellent Danny Tudhope steps in for the ride.

"It was a great run at Ascot and the time before at York over a similar distance to the Nassau," said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah.

"She deserves a big one and it's only a matter of 'when'. She should handle Goodwood no problem as she's well balanced, but it's a quality field."

Pros: Running off the back of a career-best effort at Royal Ascot

Cons:Tackles Group 1 company for the first time and without a Group win so far

Sun Maiden looking for first Group win

Sun Maiden chases a hat-trick after successes at Nottingham and Newcastle, and could hardly be in better form.

Along with Rawdaa, she attempts to give Sir Michael Stoute an impressive eighth Nassau win and first since 2004.

"She's progressed well from a Listed race at Nottingham to a Group 3 at Newcastle, so deserves a step up to what looks a very competitive race," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.

"I don't think the ground is any great issue and she wasn't quite right when running at the track last year, so I don't see the course as any great issue."

Pros:On the upgrade after two solid victories

Cons:Something to find with the protagonists on ratings and without a Group win

Deirdre breaks new ground for Japan

Japanese mare Deirdre – well beaten in the Prince of Wales's Stakes run in driving rain – and tough filly Nyaleti complete the nine-strong field.

Attracting a runner from Japan is a major coup for Goodwood, but Deirdre will have to return to the best of her domestic form to feature, although the drying ground will be in her favour.

Nyaleti has been campaigned solely at Group level this season but has yet to hit the target in six runs and will need a career-best to be competitive.

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