Hollie Doyle and Nashwa win at Goodwood: Nassau Stakes report, reaction and free video replay

The trailblazing Doyle made history with her first career Classic success on John and Thady Gosden's Frankel filly in the Prix de Diane in June and on Thursday broke yet more new ground by becoming the first female rider to win the Nassau.

Nashwa - sent off the 6/5 favourite - settled nicely towards the rear of the field early on, as Dreamloper eventually took up front-running duties from Concert Hall, and she came widest of all inside the final couple of furlongs to lay down her challenge.

The 40/1 outsider Aristia stuck on gamely past a weakening Dreamloper to finish second, with Lilac Road running on to be third at 15/2, but Nashwa was a class apart, ultimately passing the post with a length and three-quarters to spare.

“It’s pretty awesome. She gave me some feel then,” said Doyle, who was becoming the first woman to ride the winner of the Goodwood feature.

“We were drawn badly today, I rode her aggressively in France as we had a good draw so I wanted to hold my position. Today, in between her work from her previous run she knows what she is doing her, so I didn’t want to light her up and ride her from a pace angle, so Mr Gosden told me to ride her that way today.

“I came down the hill with a double handful and she travels very well, but she takes a while to hit top gear. I was conscious about keeping her balanced down the hill.

“This is her perfect trip (10 furlongs). She has a high cruising speed and sees it out very well. She is push button and you can ride her anywhere which is really nice.”

She added: “It’s unreal, Nashwa is a horse of a lifetime and if it wasn’t for Imad Al Sagar (owner) giving me this opportunity, I might not have enjoyed days like this.”

Gosden senior said: “We were drawn nine and we didn’t want to get caught on the outside with daylight.

“We’ve relaxed at the back in last and what they’ve done is suddenly pull the pace up and if you look at the fractions, they did two 14-second furlongs in the middle which is as slow as you can go. Coming from last made it tough on her as they are quickening down the hill and she has to get there, but Nashwa has got the class and when the ground levelled off she was happier and she won with a bit in hand.

“I think next time we might have to put a pacemaker in. She is versatile to do that from off the pace. She is a talented filly and I think we will stay in against the fillies in something like the Prix de l’Opera. I don’t want to rush taking on colts this year, maybe next year.

“She’s won with a bit in hand, but she is a grand filly who is improving all the time. Her owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar keeps pictures of her and she has changed a lot this year alone. I’ll stay with the fillies at this stage in the Prix de l’Opera, but a bit more pace would have suited.

“We tried over a mile and a half at Epsom and she didn’t quite get the trip. She’s won the Diane and the Nassau so you can never ask for more from a filly. She has got the frame to improve again in the autumn and next year.”

He added: “Hollie Doyle is a star. She has an incredible work ethic. As a rider, she is very savvy and strong with great balance. She has the most wonderful personality and she is so applied and focused – she is a credit to anybody in any line of work.”

Richard Hannon was thrilled with the performance of Aristia in second place.

“Delighted, she is always a filly that kind of runs massively above what you were expecting,” he said.

“For some reason she did not come into her coat until well after Ascot, we have got her back right and she looks a million dollars. She ran a super race and we have got the rest of the season to look forward to.

“She has finished second to an extremely good filly there. Everything is an option now. She is a filly with an awful lot of scope, we are delighted with today.

“There are some lovely races coming up and I would love to hope she will stay in training for next year.”

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