Dubawi's Wild Illusion Makes All In the Nassau

It had felt a long time since Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) showed the world what she was capable of, but Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. played to her strengths and with William Buick in the mood for a tactical masterclass it was plain sailing for Godolphin's TDN Rising Star. As with the operation's only prior winner of this, Zahrat Dubai (GB) (Unfuwain), who took it in its inaugural year as a group 1, the G1 Epsom Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up was coming back in trip after two apparent non-staying efforts over a mile and a half. Allowed to use her lengthy stride from the front on the rolling Sussex Downs, the 4-1 shot relished the experience to crack her rivals one by one. At the line, the bay had two lengths to spare over the July 1 G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), who edged out Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by a short head. Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) never looked likely to justify 15-8 favouritism and after sending out early distress signals trailed in last of the six runners to compound Ballydoyle's current spell of ill fortune. “Perhaps she's a bit quicker than we first thought,” Buick said. “In the Oaks, she got outstayed and it was the same at Royal Ascot. In both races, she travelled beautifully and she was very smooth again today. Charlie [Appleby] just said to get her into a rhythm and she pricked her ears in front and picked it up gradually. She's a high-quality filly and it was lovely to confirm it again. She has just been running over the wrong trip and on pedigree she is only going to progress.”

One of several chief Classic protagonists entering the winter under the eye of Charlie Appleby, Wild Illusion had impressed on the clock when beating Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) on a testing surface in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Chantilly's Arc card in October. Possibly typecast as a slow-ground specialist as a result, she moved across Newmarket's quick turf without compromise when fourth on her return in the May 6 G1 1000 Guineas and it was the sapping conditions prevalent for the Oaks that ultimately proved her undoing. Fading late when runner-up in Epsom's June 1 Classic, she failed to get to grips with Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on one of that talented Ballydoyle runner's good days when racing on contrasting ground in the Ribblesdale sticking at 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot 20 days later.

For Appleby, this was the end of the learning curve and the beginning of the homebred's true story. “Wild Illusion has been rock solid all season and was coming into the race as well as I have seen her all season,” he explained. “I felt that dropping back in trip was going to be her forte. Will [Buick] said although the ground has dried up here in the last 24 hours, there is a bit of moisture in there and he said it is not as quick as Ascot. He is great on the front end–we have seen that many times before–and he has given her a lovely tactical ride from the front. I told him to use her stamina from half a mile out to stretch her rivals, as we know she gets the mile and a half well and would have no problems at this trip. Full credit to all the team at home, and to Michel [Rakotoarisoa] who rides her every day at home and looks after her. We'll let the dust settle before deciding where to go now and while she's had a busy campaign she looks like she's thriving–when fillies tell you that you map out a plan to suit.”

Charlie Appleby has come of age in 2018 and as a result the Godolphin operation have entered back into a groove not witnessed in Britain's top races for some time. “This has been a stellar season, there is no doubt about it, and everybody is enjoying it,” he said. “This is where Godolphin should be and hopefully we can keep the momentum going. I am very fortunate to be in this position–His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the royal family have supported me very well and have been very kind to me. It is only my job to try and put these winners on the board at this level. The two-year-olds have started coming to hand now and we need them to do well as we build for next year.”

William Haggas said of Urban Fox, “I am very pleased with her. Danny [Tudhope] said the winner has just kept on finding and he could never get to her. It was a strong field–there was a Classic winner from last year, a Classic winner from this year, an Oaks runner-up. I have put her in the [G1] Prix Jean Romanet [at Deauville Aug. 19]. It is a bit soon, but it is four-year-olds and up, which might be a bit more appealing than giving away weight.” Veracious's connections were taking much from the experience, with the TDN Rising Star the biggest threat to the winner in the closing stages before paying for her early keenness. Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, said, “We're very happy, it is the first time she's had a proper race. Frankie [Dettori] said she was a bit immature, a bit green and got a little intimidated, but overall we're very happy. We will review whether we're going to stay at a mile and a quarter or drop back to the mile, so we've got those options to consider.” Kevin Buckley, representing Coolmore Stud in the UK, said of Rhododendron, “She ran flat and that's not like her,” he said. “She was disappointing, but we'll get her home and check her out. The pace was slow early, but I'm not using that as an excuse and Ryan [Moore] said she just didn't sparkle.”

Like the aforementioned Zahrat Dubai, Wild Illusion did not see out 12 furlongs on her last two starts but the general impression from her pedigree is that the Oaks trip should not be beyond her. Her dam Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) made virtually all over two miles in a handicap at this venue and was particularly potent from the front as she proved when capturing the 10-furlong Listed Ballymacoll Stud Lord Weinstock Memorial S. by six lengths in 2011. Her dam, the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin-winning highweight Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), is a half-sister to another who stayed a mile and a half well in Royal Highness (Ger) also by Monsun. She took the G2 Prix de Malleret over that distance and was second in the G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Ganay in France before joining Christophe Clement and adding the GI Beverly D S. to her tally. She later produced the G2 Prix Hocquart and G2 Prix Dollar-winning sire Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and is connected to Godolphin's ill-fated G1 Dubai World Cup hero Electrocutionist (Red Ransom). Rumh, whose first foal was the Listed Montrose S. winner and Listed Meydan Classic third Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), also boasts the 2-year-old filly Ceratonia (GB) by Free Port Lux's sire Oasis Dream who scored on debut for this yard at Ascot last week and yearling and foal full-brothers to Wild Illusion.

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, f, 9f 197yT, 2:06.22, gd.
1–WILD ILLUSION (GB), 125, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
£340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 7-3-2-1, $907,361. *1/2
to Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng & SP-UAE,
$108,180. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Urban Fox (GB), 133, f, 4, by Foxwedge (Aus)
1st Dam: Lomapamar (GB), by Nashwan
2nd Dam: Morina, by Lyphard
3rd Dam: Arewehavingfunyet, by Sham
(10,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT; 425,000gns 3yo '17 TATMA).
O-Barnane Stud Ltd; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-William Haggas.
£129,000.
3–Veracious (GB), 125, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Infallible (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Irresistible (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Polish Romance, by Danzig
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute.
£64,560.
Margins: 2, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.00, 3.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Billesdon Brook (GB), Wilamina (Ire), Rhododendron (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.