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Wild Illusion claims Nassau Stakes, O'Brien off mark

Wild Illusion impressed at Goodwood
Wild Illusion impressed at Goodwood

Wild Illusion put her superior stamina to good use to win the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, the 4-1 shot stepped up on her second places in both the Oaks at Epsom and the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot to claim the second Group One success of her career.

Buick opted to set the early gallop in the six-runner heat, with Wild Illusion rolling along nicely in front and Urban Fox and Rhododendron keeping tabs on her, along with Veracious.

However, when the pace heated up in the straight, Aidan O'Brien's Rhododendron dropped away tamely, leaving the William Haggas-trained Urban Fox to serve it up to the front-runner, who was also fourth in the 1000 Guineas.

Dropping back to 10 furlongs from a mile and a half, Wild Illusion had plenty in reserve when push came to shove, kicking on again to win by two lengths. 

Ryan Moore rides Land Force to victory

Earlier, Aidan O'Brien scored his first winner of the week at Goodwood as Land Force lifted the Qatar Richmond Stakes.

The Ballydoyle handler has made no secret of the fact his yard is not quite firing on all cylinders at present, but Land Force was nevertheless well supported for this Group Two heat, being sent off the 5-2 favourite under Ryan Moore.

A son of No Nay Never, Land Force raced prominently enough as Konchek helped force the early pace and Moore was left in front with a couple of furlongs to run, but the challengers would not go away.

He appeared to hit a bit of a flat spot inside the distance, but as Marie's Diamond came up to his quarters, Land Force found a little extra to come home a length clear.

Anglesey Stakes winner Marie's Diamond, who was led out unsold at £675,000 at the Goodwood Sale on Wednesday evening, clung on to minor honours by a neck from Shine So Bright.
 

O'Brien was not present, leaving Coolmore's UK representative Kevin Buckley to outline possible plans for the colt.

He said: "We are very pleased with that, as he ran on very gamely at the end. He fought for Ryan nicely, he was very pleased with his attitude and it was stepping back up to six (furlongs) again - we couldn't be happier.

"We would have preferred a slightly better draw, but Ryan got him in a nice position and he battled on well for him. If you look back at his run at Ascot (third in the Norfolk Stakes), that was good form.

"He is out of a mare by Rock Of Gibraltar and is by No Nay Never, so it is fantastic for him to have a Group Two winner in his first crop.

"We will probably step him up in class now and whether we look at the Morny or the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, they could be on the agenda."

Pilaster and Maid Up fought out a thrilling finish to the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, with the first-named just prevailing in the Goodwood Group Two.

Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by David Egan, who only recently relinquished his apprentice status, Pilaster (11-4) had to fight back after being headed, to just steal the verdict by a short head.

Flattering had set the early gallop along with favourite God Given, and it looked as though the front group of four runners had stolen the advantage turning for home.

However, their early efforts told in the straight, with Pilaster and Maid Up staying on from the back to take the honours, while third-placed Star Rock was also putting in her best work at the end of the mile-and-six-furlong heat.

The stirring finish caught the eye of the stewards, but the placings remained unaltered following an inquiry.

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