Sobetsu goes for Nassau crown

Three-year-old filly Sobetsu goes for further G1 glory in the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes, the feature race on day three of Glorious Goodwood, Thursday, August 3. 

Wuheida was also declared for the race but trainer Charlie Appleby decided to take her out due to the extremely testing conditions after heavy rainfall at Goodwood. 

Sobetsu (now the mount of William Buick), by Dubawi and an impressive three-length winner of the 10-furlong G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Deauville on May 14, drops back down in distance after finishing eighth over a mile and a half in the G1 Oaks at Epsom Downs on June 2.

Seven runners are set to line up in the Nassau Stakes and they include Winter, a three-time G1 winner this season, G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf scorer Queen’s Trust. 

Charlie Appleby commented: “We are coming back in trip with Sobestu and she won the Prix Saint-Alary on soft ground, so conditions could come into her favour if the rain arrives. 

“If she gets her ground and can repeat her performance at Deauville, then she won’t look out of place in this line-up.”

Godolphin also has two contenders in Thursday’s other Pattern race for fillies and mares, with Endless Time (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) and Natural Scenery (Saeed bin Suroor/Jim Crowley) going for the G3 Lillie Langtry Stakes over a mile and three quarters. 

Five-year-old Endless Time, beaten a half a length when second in the 12-furlong G1 Prix Vermeille at Chantilly last year, steps down in trip after fading to 10th in the G1 Gold Cup over two and a half miles at Royal Ascot on June 22. 

Natural Scenery, a maiden winner on good to soft ground at Newmarket in June 2016, returns to turf following a string of fine efforts on an All-Weather surface. 

The four-year-old daughter of Dubawi captured three handicaps during the winter and was runner-up in the valuable Northumberland Plate Heritage Handicap over an extended two miles on Tapeta at Newcastle on July 1. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Endless Time won a G2 on soft ground at Haydock last season and will appreciate any rain. 

“She didn’t see out the two and a half miles in the Gold Cup and the drop back in trip is going to suit.

“She has won at Goodwood before and, if she turns up on her A game, she is going to be very competitive.”

Saeed bin Suroor remarked: “Natural Scenery ran an excellent race in the Northumberland Plate and has done well since. 

“This distance will suit her and she has been working nicely. This is a tough contest but she always runs well and deserves to take her chance.”