Japan's defending champion Deirdre to face six in red-hot Nassau Stakes

Japanese star Deirdre will return to defend the crown she won 12 months ago when she faces six rivals in the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.15) at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday.

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy will again take the ride on the Mitsuru Hashida-trained mare, who has not won in five starts since landing the second top-level win of her career.

Chief among Deirdre's rivals is the John Gosden-trained Nazeef, who has won her last six starts culminating in success in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting earlier this month.

Fancy Blue, who gave Donnacha O'Brien his first Group 1 win as a trainer in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, is one of three Irish-trained runners along with globetrotting star Magic Wand, trained by Aidan O'Brien, and One Voice.

Donnacha O'Brien, who will be watching from home, told Qipco British Champions Series: "Fancy Blue is very genuine, tries hard and takes her work well. She’s a very uncomplicated and talented filly who relaxes and is able to quicken.

"She gets a mile and a quarter very well and is closely related to High Chaparral, so there’s plenty of stamina in her pedigree and she will probably get a mile and a half in time.

"I think she can probably be competitive in Group 1s anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half."

The field is completed by Lavender's Blue and Queen Power, who found Nazeef too good in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Nassau card

Nassau Stakes final field

1 DeirdreOisin Murphy
2 Lavender's BlueWilliam Buick
3 Magic Wand Frankie Dettori
4 NazeefJim Crowley
5 Queen PowerSilvestre de Sousa
6 Fancy Blue Ryan Moore
7 One Voice Tom Marquand

Nassau Stakes betting
William Hill: 5-2 Fancy Blue, 11-4 Nazeef, 4 Deirdre, Magic Wand, 10 Queen Power, 16 One Voice, 22 Lavender's Blue

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