The track was hit by 26mm of rain in one 20 minute period resulting in the feature Nassau Stakes having to be started without stalls because of thunder and lightning in the area.
One of the signature races of Glorious Goodwood had to be started by flag after a deluge of rain and bursts of thunder and lightning hit the track on Thursday.
The Group 1 Nassau Stakes, over a 1m2f, is one of the top contests for fillies and mares in the Flat racing calendar. The start of the race was delayed after 26mm of rain fell during a 20 minutes period and the runners were held back while the storm passed through.
The horrendous weather, which blighted day three of the prestigious race meeting, sent racegoers scurrying for shelter – while a plane carrying jockeys to the venue was forced into an emergency landing.
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The rain relented enough for stewards to give the all clear for jockeys to mount but, just as the field was set to be loaded into the starting stalls, there was another clap of thunder and the starter announced the race would be go off by flag due to lightning in the area.
The race eventually went off eight minutes late with the steel stalls out of action for a second race, a flag also being used for the previous Gordon Stakes.
The 6-5 favourite, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Whirl, was taken straight to the front by Ryan Moore and never saw another rival. In the torrential rain she drew five lengths clear of Cercene with See The Fire a length and a quarter back in third.
Immediately after the completion of the race the going was changed to heavy, from good, good to firm in places. Moore said he had never ridden in a Group 1 race started by flag.
“It’s not ideal, is it?” he said. “Whirl keeps doing what she says she is going to do. She is very uncomplicated, has loads of ability, stays well. She handles quick ground, handles slow ground. She’s tall. Aidan called her a racine machine the last day.
“This filly is progressing all the time. It’s a shame it was the spectacle it was but she has done it very well.”
O’Brien said: “Well done to everybody for getting it on and keeping it going. Whirl is an amazing filly.”
Whirl could now be a candidate for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and O’Brien said: “She has all the options. She can go anywhere. She can go to York, France for the Arc trials, the Arc. She can do them all. She is a very good filly.”
