Wild Illusion dominates Nassau Stakes

Wild Illusion, the beaten favorite in the Group 1 English Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Epsom on June 1 and the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot later that month, won her first start against older fillies and mares in Thursday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood meeting in southern England.

Ridden by William Buick, Wild Illusion (4-1) led throughout the 1 1/4 miles on turf to finish two lengths in front of 3-1 Wild Fox, the winner of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares in Ireland on July 1.

Veracious (5-1) was third in the field of six, well clear of 15-8 favorite Rhododendron, who failed to keep pace from a stalking position and faded to finish last, beaten 8 3/4 lengths.

Wild Illusion, by Dubawi, won her second Group 1 race in the $786,000 Nassau. Last October at Chantilly, France, Wild Illusion won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at a mile, France’s top race for 2-year-old fillies.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trained by Charles Appleby, Wild Illusion has won 3 of 7 starts. She was fourth in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas in May in her first start of 2018.

Appleby said the shorter distance of the Nassau compared to the English Oaks and Ribblesdale Stakes at 1 1/2 miles played a role in the win.

“Dropping back in trip I felt was going to help and tactically we couldn’t see where the pace was going to come from,” he said. “I asked William to go out there and do what he is good at. He is great on the front end – we have seen that many times before – and he has given her a lovely tactical ride from the front.

“I told him to use her stamina from half a mile out to stretch her rivals. As we know she gets the mile and a half well and would have no problems with this trip.”