Cercene taking distance test in Nassau Stakes

After her Royal Ascot triumph, Cercene now faces a fresh challenge as she steps up in distance for the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Joe Murphy Confident Cercene Will Stay the Distance

Cercene gave Irish trainer Joe Murphy his career highlight with a thrilling Coronation Stakes win at Royal Ascot, and now she is being tested over a longer trip. Although her success has so far come over a mile, Murphy always believed she was a stayer in the making.

“She’s so relaxed, we always thought she would be a mile-and-a-half filly but she proved us wrong by being so good at a mile,” Murphy said. “We were very happy with her since her last run and we’ll find out how we get on up in trip, so it will be a learning curve.”

He confirmed Cercene is entered in the Matron Stakes as a fallback if she doesn't stay, but added: “If she does, it opens up more options for us and I do think she will stay.”

Ballydoyle Threat and Familiar Rivals Await

To win another Group One, Cercene must fend off the Ballydoyle pair Whirl and Bedtime Story Trainer Aidan O’Brien is chasing a sixth Nassau success, having taken the race last year with Opera Singer. Bedtime Story returns after a strong second in the French Oaks, but Whirl is the top Coolmore hope following a dominant Pretty Polly Stakes victory.

“She’s a very straightforward, honest filly,” said O’Brien. “It was the obvious race for her... it’s baby steps her way and that’s why she’s coming here.”

Andrew Balding, who saw Whirl defeat Kalpana last time, now brings See The Fire into the fray. The filly was only narrowly beaten in this race last year and comes off a strong third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“There is evidence to suggest she is improving all the time, and she certainly looks to have done physically,” Balding said. “She is an exciting filly, and hopefully the best is to come.”

“It was the obvious race for her... it’s baby steps her way and that’s why she’s coming here.”

Aidan O'Brien

Completing the line-up is Running Lion from the John and Thady Gosden yard, making just her second start over this trip after placing second in the Prix de l’Opera.