Vodafone Nassau Stakes

The Group One Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday is likely to revolve around Irish raider Alexander Goldrun, who stands out like a sore thumb and has much the best form in the race.However, while she's proven on a soft surface, I reckon that she is worth taking on with the only genuine mudlark in the field - the Mark Johnston-trained Secret Histroy. When there's cut in the going at Goodwood, front-runners can often be hard to peg back. This is largely because there is a downhill run shortly after the start, which levels out but then becomes evident leading up to the exit into the straight. At this the runners are free-wheeling and Joe Fanning will no doubt exploit this aspect of the Sussex track's slopes and might just nick an unassailable lead, knowing that his filly relishes the going and that her stamina is proven.Indeed, the daughter of Bahri demonstrated how effective she is when able to get her toe in the ground when making all to easily beat Quickfire by five-lengths in the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York in May. That was over a slightly farther trip on soft going, hence I state that her stamina is proven.To be honest, Secret History isn't a genuine Group One performer where as Alexander Goldrun, three times a winner at the highest level, certainly is. But although Jim Bolger's charge has won on heavy going, she is arguably a better horse on faster going, a theory backed up by the fact that seven of her eight career victories have been achieved on going officially described as 'good' or better. Bearing this in mind, and considering that she will be trying to concede 10lb to the selection, there are good grounds for taking her on at likely short odds. Alexander Goldrun was put in her place by Soviet Song in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time, but lost no caste in defeat given that there ws no pace on offer that day and that she was running over a mile, a trip that is now probably an inadequate test for her. Indeed, the mile and-a-quarter trip that she will be encountering on Saturday is much more to her liking, as she demonstrated when coming from last to first to cosily beat Red Bloom by a length-and-a-half in the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh last month. The going was fast that day, which gives rise to my earlier comments regarding the going being of slight concern. Red Bloom, winner of the Group One Fillies' Mile as a two-year-old, was plagued with injury last season, but clearly retains plenty of ability. However, she too has yet to prove herself on going this soft, and judging by her light action, I doubt it will suit her. Karen's Caper was under one length adrift of Alexander Goldrun when coming home fourth in the Falmouth. She is a classy filly, although another that is unproven on going softer than good. The concern regarding her acting on the going is accentuated by the fact that she's stepping up from a mile, thus added emphasis on stamina being placed on a filly whose forty appears to be speed. Stamina will not be a problem for Something Exciting, who landed the Lupe Stakes on fast going here earlier in the season before running a cracking race in defeat when chasing home Eswarah in the Oaks. Admittedly, that form has taken many knocks since and Something Exciting performed poorly herself when only fourth in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot at York subsequently. However, she can be forgiven that one below-par run, while she and Eswarah where nicely clear of the remainder in the Oaks so there's every chance that they will both prove themselves further down the line. But I cannot look beyond Secret History, who hails from s stable with an excellent record at this meeting, is in good form, will relish the conditions, and should be a decent price. Betting verdict: 1pt e/w Secret History