Midday Shines in Nassau Stakes

Midday emerged from the fog and gloom to capture her first group I victory, drawing off to a commanding 2 1/4-length win in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood Aug. 1.

Trainer Henry Cecil decided to take a gamble with Midday and left her in the race despite the fears about the going, which had deteriorated due to persistent rain. The gamble paid off when the Juddmonte Farm homebred pulled away from the field in the final furlong to win easily under Tom Queally.

Barshiba went quickly to the front and was followed closely by Spacious and Katiyra. Midday rated just off that trio in fourth, while Rainbow View stalked the leaders from fifth. 

With portions of the racecourse obscured due to the heavy fog and rain, onlookers were unable to see much of the race. As the field came across to the stands-side in the home straight, Midday appeared from the fog well in front of the rest of the field, and the 3-year-old continued to run on strongly to the wire.

Rainbow View finished well to be second, a half-length in front of Moneycantbuymelove. The final time for the just over nine furlongs was 2:09.42 over the soft going.

Jockey Queally told the Racing Post afterward, "She did it well, and she's back to her best. Henry stuck his neck out and said he wanted to run.

"We just didn't want to break her heart again and disappoint her (on soft ground) but she went on it better than I thought she would. Irish soft ground and English are two different things, and this proved it.”

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte operation, added, "This filly really is testament to Henry's genius, and his belief in her."

Midday completed a stakes double for owner. Earlier in the day, Zacinto, a 3-year-old son of Dansili, made his seasonal debut a winning one, capturing the listed Blue Square Premier Stakes under Ryan Moore.

Midday is a 3-year-old daughter of Oasis Dream out of the winning Kingmambo mare Midsummer.  She is from the immediate family of champions Reams of Verse and Elmaamul.