Whirl under Ryan Moore weathers the pounding rain for victory in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (Francesca Altoft/focusonracing.com)
Whirl Secures Automatic Berth into the Maker’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Breeders’ Cup Release
CHICHESTER, England – 6-5 favorite Whirl (IRE), owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier, won the £600,000 Group 1 Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) by 5 lengths at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Thursday in unprecedented conditions.
Whirl gained a guaranteed start in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
The 1 ¼-mile race was run on heavy ground due to a severe deluge that struck the Sussex track moments before the race, with 26 millimeters (about 1.02 in) of rain falling in just 20 minutes. Because of flashes of lightning occurring while the horses were circling at the start, a flag start was required – the first since the introduction of starting stalls in the 1960’s.
Ryan Moore capitalized aboard Whirl, pinching almost 6 lengths from certain runners. The Ballydoyle 3-year-old never lost the lead and crossed the post 5 lengths clear of the pack, proving her versatility and resolve.
After the race, winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “I can’t remember a race without stalls. She’s an amazing filly. She’s a homebred, by Wootton Basset (GB). She gets any type of ground, something she roved today.
“In the spring, we set up all our fillies at home and she came out in front. She’s just very good.”
Following a question around her participation in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, O’Brien replied: “Depends what the lads want to do with her. She can go to the Arc, or she can miss it. Or she can go to France for the Arc trials. She is so straightforward she has so many options. She could also go to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – that would be a different type of test.”
"She's got plenty of ability."
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) July 31, 2025
Ryan Moore an impressive win for Whirl in the @Q_REC Nassau Stakes pic.twitter.com/jqhUdqhjEy
Ryan Moore added her progressive attributes: “The start wasn’t ideal. She just keeps doing what she says she’s going to do, she’s very uncomplicated and has loads of ability. She stays well, can handle quick ground, and can handle slow ground. Aidan called her a racing machine, and this filly just keeps progressing over time.”
Cercene (IRE), owned by Shane R. Stafford, finished second, proving her apparent surprise 33-1 win in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot was no fluke. Prior to today, her trainer admitted she would have preferred quicker ground, but she handled less than ideal conditions impressively.
The much fancied See The Fire (GB), owned by Jeff Smith, finished third after losing roughly 6 lengths to Whirl at the start after threatening to plant. Trainer, Andrew Balding, warned that the Heavy going was not ideal for the four-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars.
The winning time of the five-runner field was 2.08.43.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Qatar Nassau Stakes to start in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 3/8 miles. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
