Classic heroines among superb entry for G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.

British Classic winners Forever Together and Billesdon Brook feature among 20 fillies and mares entered for the £600,000 Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, the highlight on the third day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Ladies’ Day, Thursday, August 2.

Some of the leading entries come from champion British & Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, including Epsom Oaks winner, Forever Together. The Godolphin-owned Wild Illusion was a four-and-a-half length second in that race and also holds an entry for the Group 1

O’Brien’s entries also include top-class four-year-olds Hydrangea and Rhododendron, who have won five Group 1 prizes between them, plus recent impressive G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Magic Wand who had Wild Illusion in second. All three are also daughters of Galileo.

Billesdon Brook (Richard Hannon) provided a major shock when defying odds of 66/1 in the Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6, making her the longest-priced winner in the history of the mile Classic.

Other exciting three-year-olds among the Qatar Nassau Stakes entries include Sea Of Class (William Haggas), unbeaten this season after two impressive Listed victories at Newbury, and Group 1 Coronation Stakes third Veracious (Sir Michael Stoute), a daughter of Frankel.

Eve Johnson Houghton sent out of her first Group 1 winner last week, courtesy of Accidental Agent in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and is eyeing further Group 1 glory with Goodwood winner Magnolia Springs. 

Johnson Houghton said: “Magnolia Springs is running at Newcastle on Friday in the G3 Hoppings Stakes.

“We know she likes Goodwood after her win there last time, and not every filly will like the track, so we felt it was worth giving her an entry in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

“She is a filly who is only going to improve, both physically and mentally, and I hope she can get up to that level.”

Newmarket trainer John Gosden won three successive renewals of the Qatar Nassau Stakes between 2012 and 2014. He could run four-year-old Dubawi filly Coronet, successful on her comeback in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York in May.

North Yorkshire handler Mark Johnston has an excellent record at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. He has made two entries – Group 2 German 1000 Guineas winner and fellow Group 2 scorer Threading.

Talented five-year-olds Promising Run (Saeed bin Suroor) and Wilamina (Martyn Meade) are also entered in the Qatar Nassau Stakes which forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. 

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