FANCY Blue fended off fellow Irish raider One Voice to win the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.

Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, Fancy Blue gave the young handler – who only sent out his first winner five months ago – a landmark classic success when lifting the Prix de Diane on her most recent start and she added to those gains with a gutsy performance.

Magic Wand, trained by O’Brien’s father, Aidan, set a steady pace up front and Fancy Blue sat on her heels throughout before Ryan Moore gave her the signal to go on.

Magic Wand, who was sent off the 9/4 favourite, tried to go with the winner, but she was a spent force, with One Voice emerging as Fancy Blue’s main rival in the final furlong.

However, Fancy Blue (11/4) was just too strong in the finish, prevailing by a neck, with the strong-finishing Nazeef back in third.

FAMILY DOUBLE

Earlier, Donnacha's father Aidan struck when Mogul opened his account for the season with a hard-fought success in the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes.

Well-touted during the winter as a leading classic contender, Aidan O’Brien’s charge was only fourth on his return at Royal Ascot before finishing sixth in the Derby at the beginning of the month.

This Group 2 affair was something of an Epsom re-run, with second-placed Khalifa Sat, fast-finishing fifth English King and 10th-placed Highland Chief all renewing rivalry, with English King sent off the 5/4 favourite.

It was Subjectivist who set out to make all though, building up a healthy lead that he did not relinquish easily once the race began to heat up in the straight.

Khalifa Sat was the first to really challenge, but while Subjectivist repelled his spurt he could not find another gear as first Highland Chief and then Mogul swept down the outside.

It was Mogul (9/2) who had most in reserve, responding to Ryan Moore’s urging to pull three-quarters of a length clear at the line, with Highland Chief second and Subjectivist hanging on for third.

English King appeared to be in trouble from over two furlongs out and had to settle for fourth.

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