Goodwood has produced plenty of heart-stopping moments this week butfew have been as dramatic as the victory of 4-5 favourite Russian Rhythm in today's Vodafone Nassau Stakes. Those who had put their faith in Sir Michael Stoute's star were surely reaching for the smelling salts as the field entered the final quarter mile, with the Kieren Fallon-partnered filly seemingly boxed in behind a wall of horses.
Adding to the conundrum was the thought that the last two furlongs was further than Russian Rhythm had ever travelled on the track in her life. But in the end Fallon pulled his mount wide and she fairly ate up the ground to snatch victory - her third Group One success of the season - by a neck from French challenger Ana Marie.
"I was following the two horses on the rail where the better ground was but they were slowing so I had to switch to the worse ground which did not suit her as she couldn't get a foothold," said the winning jockey. "She's a super filly who never knows when she is beaten. The rain earlier in the week was a big worry but the sun came out today and the going went in our favour." Stoute admitted he had been concerned about the ground all week.
"We were worried about running her on ground that might be too soft for her, he said. She really dug deep. She showed she gets the trip but she wants livelier ground, she couldn't get a grip on it. We decided to run as the ground was not as bad as I feared but Kieren said she found it difficult to get a hold of it from where she was on the false ground."
"But once she got out she really put her head down and ran - she is a very brave filly. We needed time to think about where we would go with her and we decided coming here would give us another option, although I don't know where she will go next." Phillippe Demercastel, trainer of the runner-up heaped praise on her jockey Richard Hughes.
"Ana Marie was second in the Prix Vermeille last year and is a very good filly, and Richard very nearly stole it," said the Frenchman. "He told me that he saw Kieren Fallon hemmed in on the rails on the favourite, so rather than wait longer as we originally planned he kicked and pinched four lengths. He knew that Russian Rhythm would have to be very good to make up that sort of deficit and the ploy almost worked."
"Russian Rhythm is a 1000 Guineas winner and it was no disgrace to be beaten by her. Now we will probably have a crack at the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp's Arc meeting." Demercastel admitted the cross-channel trip was worthwhile. "It was certainly worth a shot and I'm glad we came," he added. "We brought The Wonder for the Sussex Stakes many years ago but Ana Marie has run much better and we have been well looked after at what is one of the most beautiful courses in the world."
Filed by Brendan Cole
