Winter gets fourth straight Group 1 win in Nassau Stakes

We shall see about the fall, but the spring and summer have revealed the 3-year-old filly Winter to be exceptional.

On Thursday at Goodwood, Winter won her fourth Group 1 race in a row, capturing the Nassau Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Blonde Me. The Nassau followed Group 1 wins in the English and Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and at just a few yards short of 1 1/4 miles, it was about a quarter-mile farther than Winter ever had raced.

Not only did she stay the trip, Winter did so over soft, testing ground that surely blunted her brilliance. Somewhat stoked up going to post, Winter didn’t immediately settle in the Nassau as Sobetsu cut out the pace over the laboring going, but she soon relaxed under Ryan Moore and, stalking the pacesetter, looked like a winner a long way from home.

Moore allowed Winter to run up to Sobetsu about a quarter-mile out, Winter had seized command by the furlong grounds, and the only battle remaining was for second place, with Blonde Me edging Sobetsu. The winning time of 2:11.79 showed just how slow the course was playing.

“I knew [Moore] was going to wait, but when you get to the final two furlongs on that ground, you don't know what's going to happen,” said winning trainer Aidan O’Brien. “She's just very classy.”

Winter, by Galileo and out of Laddies Poker Too, by Choisir, now is 5-1-2 from eight starts. Her success at a longer distance Thursday opened up more options, O’Brien said, and Winter will be considered for a passel of races including the Irish Champion Stakes and the Matron at Leopardstown and the Juddmonte International and the Yorkshire Oaks at York.