Hermosa Heading For Nassau Stakes

Hermosa Heading For Nassau Stakes

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has also launched his plans for dual Guineas winner Hermosa to step-up in trip, adding to the news regarding stablemate Magna Grecia following the same path.

The target is next week's Group One Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood which would see the rise to a mile-and-a-quarter.

The winner of the Qipco and Irish 1,000 Guineas, O'Brien delayed the move to ten furlongs for the filly, by heading to Royal Ascot in a bid to land the Coronation Stakes and complete a historic treble.

She had the option to go for the Oaks in France and she was made to pay for the decision after being comfortably collared by the French horse Watch Me.

Nonetheless, the three-year-old lost little in defeat, and heads to the Sussex Downs seeking a sharp return to winning ways on August 1.

(Credit: AtTheRaces) Her trainer Aidan O'Brien said: “That’s the plan, to run her in the Nassau – that is what we are looking at.

“Everything seems well with her, so we are thinking of going up to a mile and a quarter.

“She was going to go to France for the French Oaks, then we decided to go for the Coronation instead.

“We were very happy with her run at Ascot. I think she is very straightforward. She is happy to lead, like she did in the Guineas, or she is happy to sit in.”

The Ballydoyle boss may be dually represented in the contest, after Just Wonderful showed some promise from her former juvenile days when finishing second in the Belmont Oaks in America.

That was her first appearance over ten furlongs, but heads back to the UK knowing she has been soundly beat by the daughter of Galileo three times this season.

“Just Wonderful is a possible as well,” O'Brien continued.

“She ran in America last time and ran well over the trip – and she is comfortable over that trip.”

Meanwhile elsewhere, Circus Maximus - winner of the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot just three weeks after running in the Derby, could be supplemented for the Qatar Sussex Stakes.

O'Brien provided an update on the former Listed Dee Stakes winner.

He said:“At the moment that is what we are thinking of doing, supplementing him for the Sussex Stakes, because we were delighted with him at Ascot.

“It was always a possibility that he would come back to a mile – earlier in the year, he was left in the Guineas until a late stage.

“I think it is a testament to his class, what he did coming back in trip. It is possible that we might go further with him in the future.”

Southern France could repose Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup, Constantinople has the possibility of heading to the Gordon Stakes whilst Le Brivido retains options in both France and at Goodwood.