Murtagh steers Peeping Fawn home

Racing:  Peeping Fawn bagged a third consecutive Group One victory in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Racing: Peeping Fawn bagged a third consecutive Group One victory in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Aidan O'Brien's strapping filly allayed concerns about her ability to handle lively conditions underfoot with a most authoritative success.

French raider Mandesha was runner-up, while Vodafone Oaks heroine Light Shift was third.

O'Brien's charge always travelled well in the hands of Johnny Murtagh and quickened up nicely to score by a length and a half.

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As expected, last year's 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa endeavoured to make all the running.

But Pam Sly's four-year-old was no match for Peeping Fawn once her partner pressed the button five out.

The response was emphatic as the Pretty Polly and Irish Oaks winner, the 2-1 favourite, put daylight between her rivals within a heartbeat.

Three-time Group One winner Mandesha, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, returned to her best with a staying-on second.

Light Shift, runner-up to Peeping Fawn in the Irish Oaks, did little wrong in third and was three and a half lengths further in arrears.

Disappointment of the race was last year's third Nannina, who came home last.

"She's a great filly, a class act - good ground or soft ground, 10 furlongs or a mile and a half. She's very special," said Murtagh.

"The inside round Goodwood is not the ideal place to be, and I didn't want to be boxed in or have a rough race. So I eased her out in plenty of time and she probably got there a bit soon. I was in front for a furlong more than I should have been really.

"This (performance) was every bit as good as the Curragh. It was so easy at the Curragh, it was unbelievable.  Here she had to fight a little bit and when she was in front she was a little idle.

"But she's a true professional. We give excuses about horses, the ground and everything else, but it just goes to show you the good ones can overcome anything."

O'Brien said: "She's a big, strong filly and she's progressing all the time. With each run she's getting stronger and developing.

"All the big races are open to her but we always have a meeting a week after the race to discuss plans.

"While fillies are progressing like she is, I'd quite like to keep the momentum going.  It's a very big possibility we could keep her in training next year."

VC Bet quote the Nassau winner at 10-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, while Coral offer 14s. Bet365 also dug their trenches after Peeping Fawn's effortless triumph and cut her price for the Longchamp feature from 14-1 to 8s.