'Favourable' Finish in Nassau Stakes

The finish came just in time for Gainsborough Farm homebred Favourable Terms and jockey Kieren Fallon, who held off a soaring Silence Is Golden by a short head for victory in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood Saturday.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute won the 1 1/4-mile Nassau for the third straight time and seventh overall. He won with Islington in 2002 and Russian Rhythm a year ago.

Silence is Golden, ridden by Jimmy Fortune, beat favorite Chorist for second by a neck. Darryll Holland drove Chorist to the lead three-eighths of a mile from home after Godolphin's Echoes In Eternity set a solid pace. Favourable Terms, fifth early, edged in front inside the final furlong and fought to hold on.

"We've won it with some very good ones, but she's avery admirable filly," Stoute told Racing Post. "We've had a lot of problems with her back and sometimes that compromises her. We have the physios working on her all the time."

The 5-year-old daughter of Pivotal-Fatefully (Private Account) won for the fifth time in eight lifetime starts. She won the Windsor Forest Stakes (Eng-II) to begin her 2004 season at Royal Ascot in June and last year's Matron Stakes (Ire-II) at the Curragh.

Kentucky-bred Zosima, winner of the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (gr. III) last year, finished fourth with Frankie Dettori in the irons. The final time was 2:05 over good to firm going. Six competed.