Winter Mixes It Up in Nassau

Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will step up to 10 furlongs for the first time in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Glorious Goodwood on Aug. 3. Formerly trained by the now-retired David Wachman, Aidan O'Brien's filly has been one of the success stories of the season, running a promising race on her reappearance and going on to capture the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas as well as the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. The grey daughter of Galileo has yet to race beyond a mile, but O'Brien is not expecting the trip to be a problem.

Speaking by telephone at a Qatar Goodwood Festival lunch in London, he said, “That is the plan, she has been good since Ascot. She is very straightforward and she does everything very naturally. We're happy with her at the moment. Looking at her performances at Newmarket and the Curragh, and even Ascot, you would think it [distance] should be in her compass. We are looking forward to seeing her run over a mile and quarter.”

Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori admits he is facing a “difficult” decision when it comes to his Nassau mount. With John Gosden able to call on both G3 Musidora S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and returning Group 1-placed filly and fellow So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the ever-popular Italian will have a tough choice to make.The Khalid Abdullah-owned Shutter Speed was last seen finishing a close fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane, while So Mi Dar is on the comeback trail having not run since her third to Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at Chantilly in October.

Dettori said, “It's a very tough choice for me to make, with So Mi Dar in the picture as well. I've not ridden either of them for a while and I'll be putting my legs across them next week. It's a very hard choice, as both at their best are potentially top drawer. It's a nice problem, but also a very difficult one as well.  So Mi Dar is a wonderful mare, she's had a troubled spring but is in full work now and it's all systems go.”