The Nassau Stakes

GOODWOOD, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Richard Quinn (red cap) and Unfurled get the better of Kieren Fallon and Indigo Cat to land The Predominate Stakes Race run at Goodwood Racecourse on May 18, 2005 in Goodwood, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images) The Nassau Stakes is one of the premier races of Glorious Goodwood, and dates back to 1840. The name originates from the close friendship the fifth Duke of Richmond enjoyed with the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal dynasty of the Netherlands.

It is a group 1 flat race open to thoroughbred fillies and mares that are three years or older, and is run over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 192 yards, or 1986 metres. In recent years the race has been dominated by some of the country’s top jockeys:

Kieren Fallon – he is one of the only jockeys to have won the Nassau Stakes in three consecutive years. In 2002 he won on the three-year-old Islington, a year later he triumphed on Russian Rhythm, also a 3 year old trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and in 2004 he clinched the Nassau Stakes on another Stoute trained four-year-old, Favourable Terms.
Walter Swinburn – he will always be remembered for riding the luminary Shergar to victory at the 1981 Epsom Derby by an awesome 10 lengths, smashing all records! He has also won the Nassau Stakes a total of three times,
but not in consecutive years. He claimed the title in 1984 on Optimistic Lass, in 1990 on Kartajana and finally in 1994 on Hawajiss – all trained by Michael Stoute.
Lester Piggott – is arguably one of the best known and loved jockeys of his time. He is considered one of the finest flat racers and boasts a career win record of 4493. He has picked up wins at the Nassau Stakes no fewer than five times – in 1965 and 1966 on Aunt Edith and Haymaking respectively, on Cheveley Princess in 1973 and then again in 1975 and 1976 when he and his charge, the awesome Roussalka triumphed together in both years.

Glorious Goodwood Nassau Stakes Winners from 1946

Date	Name	Jockey	Trainer
2009	Midday	T Queally	Henry Cecil
2008	Halfway to Heaven	J Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien
2007	Peeping Fawn	J Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien
2006	Ouija Board	F Dettori	E Dunlop
2005	Alexander Goldrun	K Manning	J Bolger
2004	Favourable Terms	K Fallon	Sir M Stoute
2003	Russian Rhythm	K Fallon	Sir M Stoute
2002	Islington	K Fallon	Sir M Stoute
2001	Lailani	L Dettori	E Dunlop
2000	Crimpelene	P Robinson	C Brittain
1999	Zahrat Dubai	G Stevens	S Bin Suroor
1998	Alborada	G Duffield	Sir M Prescott
1997	Ryafan	M Hills	J Gosden
1996	Last Second	G Duffield	Sir M Prescott
1995	Caramba	M Roberts	R Hannon
1994	Hawajiss	W R Swinburn	M Stoute
1993	Lyphard’s Delta	W Ryan	H Cecil
1992	Ruby Tiger	T Quinn	P Cole
1991	Ruby Tiger	T Quinn	P Cole
1990	Kartajana	W R Swinburn	M Stoute
1989	Mamaluna	G Starkey	G Harwood
1988	Ela Romara	Pat Eddery	G Wragg
1987	Nom de Plume	S Cauthien	H Cecil
1986	Park Express	J Reid	J Bolger
1985	Free Guest	Pat Eddery	L Cumani
1984	Optimistic Lass	W R Swinburn	M Stoute
1983	Acclimatise	G Baxter	B Hobbs
1982	Dancing rocks	Pat Eddery	H Wragg
1981	Go Leasing	G Starkey	G Harwood
1980	Vielle	G Baxter	B Hobbs
1979	Connaught Bridge	J Mercer	H Cecil
1978	Cistus	W Carson	W Hern
1977	Triple First	G Starkey	M Stoute
1976	Roussalka	L Piggott	H Cecil
1975	Roussalka	L Piggott	H Cecil
1974	Mil’s Bomb	G Lewis	N Murless
1973	Cheveley Princess	L Piggott	H Wragg
1972	Crespinall	R Hutchinson	R Hannon
1971	Catherine Wheel	G Lewis	B Hobbs
1970	Pulchra	G Lewis	J Sirett
1969	Lucyrowe	F Durr	P Walwyn
1968	Hill Shade	A Barclay	N Murless
1967	Fair winter	J Mercer	D Candy
1966	Haymaking	L Piggott	R F J Houghton
1965	Aunt Edith	L Piggott	N Murless
1964	Cracker	J Mercer	W Wharton
1963	Spree	J Lindley	J Tree
1962	Nortia	J Mercer	W Hern
1961	Rachel	J Lindley	J Gosden
1960	Desert Beauty	A Breasley	G Richards
1959	Crystal Palace	E Smith	T Leader
1958	Darlene	A Breasley	G Richards
1957	Swallowswift	E Mercer	G Colling
1956	Dilettante	D Smith	J F Watts
1955	Reel In	A Breasley	N Cannon
1954	Key	W Snaith	N Murless
1953	Happy Laughter	W Rickaby	J Jarvis
1952	Hortentia	D Smith	G Colling
1951	Sea Parrot	G Richards	N Murless
1950	Flying slipper	W Carr	C Boyd-Rochfort
1949	Jet Plane	G Richards	J Lawson
1948	Goblet	G Richards	N Murless
1947	Wild child	T Lowrey	R Perryman
1946	Wayward Belle	E Smith	J Jarvis