Tim Carroll 's Bio

Tim started off as a jockey in Australia before pursuing a media career. He is a highly experienced and respected racing presenter who has been based in England since 2005. Tim has travelled the world covering many of the major meetings, including Royal Ascot, The Epsom Derby, The International meeting from Sha Tin, The Dubai World Cup, The Everest, The Saudi Cup and The Breeders. He is currently a presenter for Sky Sports Racing, specialising in both the local and international scene. Tim is a regular contributor to the At The Races Website where his twice weekly tipping column on Hong Kong racing has gathered a strong following.

Goodwood Racecourse – Track Analysis (Nassau Stakes Day)

Goodwood is one of the most spectacular and unique racecourses in the world. The track is right-handed with two home bends, and all races over 1400m, 1600m and 2200m enter the straight via the lower bend, whilst all others enter via the top bend. The run in from the top bend and lower bend are approximately 900m and 750m respectively, but given the nature of the turns and the downhill gradient, it is considered a sharp track, favouring those on the speed, particularly in shorter races. Horses that are held up off the pace can run into trouble, particularly those on the rail. The track has a straight course with starting points over 1000m and 1200m.

Nassau Stakes Day sees a seven-race card. Two of those are on the straight course, the 1200m G2 Richmond Stakes, and 1000m World Pool Handicap. On the straight course the low barriers are drawn on the far side with high numbers closest the grandstand rail. Over the 1000m horses with speed tend to dominate due to the fast downhill nature of the course, and horses that break slowly can find their race all over at the start. A few years ago, there was a definite draw bias for horses drawn high in big fields, especially over 1200m, but the draw seems to have evened out after work was carried out in 2008 to move the far side rail, although speed horses over 1000m are better off drawn low.

There are five races on the round course. For the 1409m 2yo Handicap and the 2yo Fillies Maiden, it is generally considered there is no draw bias on the round course, but my own research suggests horses drawn middle to low over 1400 have an advantage in larger fields.

For the 2403m G3 Gordon Stakes, runners start from a chute on the left hand side of the course and have a decent straight run before turning right. There is no draw bias and horses are afforded every opportunity.

For the 1984m 3yo Handicap and the feature race G1 Nassau Stakes, the field start from the top of the loop on the left-hand side and run in a straight line mostly downhill before meeting rising ground on to the top bend and entering the straight which is approximately 900m. Over the last ten years the average field size for the Nassau Stakes has been just 7.6 and whilst the draw is of no concern. Winners can come from anywhere, although only one leader that is WILD ILLUSION in 2018 has been successful in the last ten years. The 3YO have a very good recent recorded, having been successful on six occasions since 2012.

Last year’s Nassau Stakes was run on good to soft ground with a field of six going to post. The joint favourite, JOAN OF ARC, took up the early running, with her stable companion, EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. In second spot, whilst ZEYAADAH was also prominent, with the rest, including the other joint favourite, AUDARYA, and LADY BOWTHORPE in behind. The race shape remained the same until entered the straight with JOAN OF ARC still going well, but ZEYAADAH loomed up on her outside and got her nose in front. But no sooner had she got to the front than LADY BOWTHORPE laid down a challenge, with the three fillies fighting out a stirring finish, with LADY BOWTHORPE getting the upper-hand over the latter stages to win by 1.5 lengths, in a time that was 3.94 seconds slower than standard.

Over the last ten years, the Nassau Stakes has been run nine times on ground with good in the description. The weather has been warm in Great Britain and with very little rain forecast before raceday, the ground is likely to be good and could even be on the firm side if the forecast is correct.

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