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 other races enter via the top bend. The run in from the top bend is 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 an eight-race card. Two of those are on the straight course, the 1200m G2 Richmond Stakes, and 1000m 3yo 76-95 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 six races on the round course. For the 1400m 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 1600m HKJC World Pool Handicap, the field will jump from halfway up the back straight where they briefly go downhill before climbing uphill then onto the lower loop into the 750m straight. It is generally considered there is no draw bias on the round course, but my own research suggests horses drawn middle to low over 1600m have an advantage in larger fields.

For the 2398m 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 1979m 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.

Last year’s Nassau Stakes was run on Soft ground with a field of six going to post. On leaving the stalls, ABOVE THE CURVE led with AL HUSN in second with the French raider, BLUE ROSE CEN tracked the leading pair in third, whilst NASHWA was waited with in the rear. There was no change in the race with the leader, ABOVE THE CURVE, able to set what was no more than a moderate gallop on the front which saw her lead her five rivals by nearly two-lengths as the entered the home straight. 600m from home the race started to develop as BLUE ROSE CEN went for a run up the inside of ABOVE THE CURVE but had the door shut in her face, and at the same time AL HUSN was laying down the gauntlet to the leader on the outside whilst NASHWA was starting to pick up strongly from the back. With 300m to go AL HUSN got her nose in front of ABOVE THE CURVE, who wasn’t done with, as BLUE ROSE CEN was still in a pocket on the inside. However, the post was looming large, and it was AL HUSN who prevailed by half-a-length from ABOVE THE CURVE with NASHWA a further half-a-length back in third in a time that was 8.47 seconds slower than standard.

Over the last ten years the Nassau has been run eight times on ground with Good in the description. With very little rain forecast in the days leading up, and during the meeting, it is likely that at the very least, Good will be in the going description.

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