England: Gosden has two classy fillies in Nassau at Goodwood

Izzi Top and The Fugue, trainer John Gosden’s top fillies of the summer, meet for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares at Goodwood Racecourse in southern England.

Izzi Top, a 4-year-old filly by Pivotal, has won her last four starts, all in stakes in three countries – France, England and Ireland. She won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland on July 1, and will be favored in the Nassau, run over about 1 1/4 miles.

The Fugue was third in the Group 1 English Oaks at Epsom, and second in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

The Nassau drew a field of eight, including Nahrain, second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall, and Was, the winner of the English Oaks who was fourth in the Group 1 Irish Oaks on July 22.

◗ Saddler’s Rock ended a two-race losing streak and won for the first time this year in Thursday’s Group 2 Goodwood Cup over two miles.

Ridden by Johnny Murtagh for John Oxx, Saddler’s Rock, the 2-1 favorite, closed from third to finish a length in front of 25-1 Askar Tau. Colour Vision, the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in June, finished third in the field of 10 as the 5-2 second choice. Saddler’s Rock was third in the Ascot Gold Cup.

Oxx said that Saddler’s Rock will be considered for the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup over two miles at York on Aug. 25.