Midday and Snow Fairy Set for Nassau Clash
- By A.J. Ryder on July 29, 2011 17:41 GMT
A major prep for the upcoming British Champions' Series will unfold on Saturday as some of the top fillies and mares in Europe clash during the closing of Glorious Goodwood. The Group 1 Nassau Stakes has seen the late withdrawal of Aiden O'Brien's Misty for Me – the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Pretty Polly Stakes winner. The four time Group 1 winner at three will be pointed towards a later contest – leaving a mere six remaining in the mix.
Annemarie O'Brien spoke to the media today and officially confirmed that Misty for Me would be missing out on the Nassau. "Aidan has decided not to risk Misty For Me in the Nassau Stakes because of the ground going good to firm."
With the favourite now removed from the equation, plenty of question marks remain over the current contenders with punters clearly preferring the higher profile pair.
Veteran Juddmonte-bred superstar Midday is going to be taking the bulk of the early attention and she is hovering just a few steps above an odds-on price with the majority of bookmakers pricing her in the 7/4 region. She has been spotted as high as 5/2 but will most certainly drop on the day, failing any complications.
Snow Fairy continues to take money going into this race. Some caution is obviously being exercised as she is only making her second start of the season – and that first attempt was a disappointing fourth place finish in the Coral Eclipse. So You Think showed plenty of class that day and it was perhaps a case of too much too quick.
The Ed Dunlop trained filly, who was purchased for a low four-figure price, will get kinder conditions here and her price is right around Midday at a 6/4-5/2 range.
Juddmonte also sends out the aspiring four-year-old Pirincipal Role who gets Richard Hughes for the trip. A lukewarm 14/1 indicates that many might think she goes out as a rabbit for Midday – a tactic we have seen Juddmonte deploy more than once this season in prominent Group 1's.
Sir Michael Stoute sends out Crystal Capella for Sir Evelyn De Rothschild on the back of the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket. She has a listed score from back in 2008 at Goodwood that could come back to serve her well.
