Goodwood: William Buick produced a masterclass aboard Charlie Appleby’s Wild Illusion to win the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, the pinnacle fillies’ contest on Day 3 at Glorious Goodwood.

Norwegian-born Buick was winning the mile and one contest for a third time following Winsili in 2013 and Sultana the following year, but it was a first for Appleby and only a second for Godolphin since Zahrat Dubai triumphed in 1999 for trainer Saeed Bin Surour.

Buick, who looks to be in the form of his life following his Epsom Derby victory aboard Masar, rode a cagey race on favourable soft ground to make all the running aboard from the daughter of Dubawi and win comfortably in the end, by two lengths from Urban Fox, the mount of Daniel Tudhope.

Wild Illusion stormed into Breeder’s Cup reckoning with Sky Bet introducing her at 7/1 for the Filly & Mare Turf, a race which Appleby won last year with Wuheida.

Appleby said: “I was happy going into Ascot but the quicker ground was a concern, whereas there’s still a bit of moisture in this ground.

“Dropping back in trip was going to help and I thought William was very good on the front end, I encouraged him to serve it up to them.

Reflecting on the season so far the Godolphin handler said: “It’s been a stellar season, there’s doubt about it.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Aidan O’Brien ended an unusually long wait for a first winner of the week when Ryan Moore’s Land Force landed the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.

O’Brien said: “We are very pleased with that, as he ran on very gamely at the end. He fought for Ryan nicely, and we were very pleased with his attitude and he was stepping back up to six (furlongs) again — we couldn’t be happier.”

The Lillie Langtry produced an absolute thriller as Pilaster and Maid Up battled nose-to-nose to the line with the first-named narrowly prevailing.

The winner was trained by Roger Varian and ridden by David Egan, who only recently shook-off his status as an apprentice.

Mark Johnston took another successful step toward becoming the most numerically successful trainer in British racing history when Communique landed the £opening Matchbook Best Value Exchange Handicap.

Johnston, who has been leading trainer at the Goodwood Festival on 11 occasions, said: ”People talk about keeping horses busy, but he hasn’t had a gallop at home since before the season started, so he’s not particularly busy and they all thrive on racing. He’s rated 97 so the next step is either more valuable handicaps or to go up to Pattern company.”