Imperious Fawn Does It In Style

Glorious Goodwood saved the best for last and on the final day of the showpiece meeting, Peeping Fawn put up the performance of the week to take top honours in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes.

The race had rightly been billed as a clash of the titans as Vodafone Oaks and Irish Oaks winners Light Shift and Peeping Fawn again locked horns, with crack French raider Mandesha and last year's third Nannina thrown into the mix for good measure.

The score between the Classic winners was one each, but the Aidan O'Brien-trained Peeping Fawn, having her ninth run of the season, proved simply irresistible as she forged clear for a thumping length-and-a-half victory.

Johnny Murtagh found himself at the head of affairs running downhill over three furlongs out and the 2-1 favourite moved powerfully as her rivals began to crack.

Mandesha came from the rear but was always fighting a losing battle, with Light Shift staying on for third.

Surprisingly, victory in the race was a first for O'Brien and Murtagh, who was providing the Coolmore operation with their third big win in a week and second Group One in seven days following Dylan Thomas' King George romp.

O'Brien said: 'She is a very special filly and has just progressed and progressed through the season.

'She came on again from the Irish Oaks and it is very strange to see a horse like her ? you can see by looking at her that she is getting bigger and stronger.

'She is progressing so much that it is unbelievable, and everything is open to her.

'We always have a meeting a week after the race to discuss plans, but the sky could be the limit.

'It's a very big possibility we could keep her in training next year.'

The Yorkshire Oaks in two weeks was mentioned as a possibility, with Blue Square and VC Bet giving her a 10-1 quote for the Arc, while totesport are just 8s.

Murtagh added: 'I was looking through the roll of honour coming here and some great fillies have won.

'There was a bit of pressure on, but she is among the top ones now.

'The race worked out exactly as I hoped it would and as I was drawn eight I thought I would be positive and give her a clear run.

'I got there a furlong sooner that I wanted as she just pulled me to the front.

'She really came on the bridle coming off the bend and from the two furlong to the one furlong pole she really felt awesome.

'She was probably idling and getting a bit tired at the finish. I could hear the crowd roaring and I could feel something closing, but when I looked and saw how far clear she was it was pretty easy from there.

'She is special and she is really kicking into gear now. She knows she is good.'

Mandesha's trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, was proud in defeat and said: 'She came over here really well and had just come to herself.

'Christophe Soumillon was not hard on her when she quickened ? she quickened up herself.

'She's an autumn filly and the plan was always to go for the Arc.

'She might have a prep race but where, we have not decided.'

Light Shift was a further three and a half lengths adrift of Mandesha and her trainer Henry Cecil said: 'Last year when she ran on very firm ground she didn't like it and it was very fast today.

'There's nothing wrong with her, and no excuses, but we knew about four out she just wasn't letting herself go.

'Once she hit the rising ground she was keeping on again. She's more likely to go for the Breeders' Cup than the Arc, but we'll see.'

(C) PA Sport