Winsili springs Nassau surprise John Gosden's filly Winsili dug deep to spring a 20/1 surprise in a dramatic race for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Goodwood this afternoon. The William Buick-ridden three-year-old responded to all her rider's urgings as she stuck to the task through the final furlong to hold the determined challenge of another outsider, Thistle Bird, by a neck, with Hot Snap a further two lengths away in third. Hot favourite Sky Lantern met all sorts of problems when trying to find a gap to make her challenge and was squeezed out of it at a crucial point, while early on in the race Just Pretending appeared to nearly charter an erroneous path at the head of affairs before Seamie Heffernan took corrective action. Buick said: "She didn't stay a mile and a half in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. She's not easy and the whole team do a great job. I got a nice run through and she was very game. It's been an up and down week, so it's nice to finish on a high. "I had plenty of room in the straight and she travelled so well. I decided to take my time as she has a nice turn of foot. The hood just helps her focus." Gosden, whose Elusive Kate beat Sky Lantern in a controversial finish to the Falmouth Stakes last month, said: "We were drawn on the outside, which has its disadvantages, but it at least meant we weren't boxed in and got a lovely run round. "She's a filly that cannot stand still, she has to be moving. She's quite strong-minded. She'll stick to a mile-and-a-quarter races for fillies, that will be her programme. There are races like the Prix de l'Opera and the Breeders' Cup. "I feel sorry for Sky Lantern, she looks as if she has got trapped. She's a fantastic filly. I admire the Hannons immensely, and the whole Falmouth episode was not pleasant, it was unsatisfactory. "This wasn't a fluke. She won well over a mile and a quarter, and at Ascot she just didn't stay. Straight after that we thought we could go for smart races like this." Tom Charlton, son of Thistle Bird's trainer Roger, said: "We're delighted. We were hoping for fourth, and we've got second. Coming here from a Group Three, she has now been placed in a Group One, so job done. As for plans, we can look at races like the Celebration Mile and the Matron Stakes." Sky Lantern's rider Richard Hughes told Channel 4 Racing: "I had a good run through all the way, then I got behind the Godolphin runner (Sajjhaa) at the two pole. I went to go round her, but Mr Buick's filly rolled in on her and pushed her back on her heels. That's racing, she was very unlucky. I had a gap and then Winsili rolled down and pushed me back in behind."
