Good morning all,
It's new day, its a new month and a long week of racing at Goodwood and Galway has come to an end. There were several standout performances at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and it was good to see a near full house of spectators back at one of flat racing’s big summer festivals. Indeed, it was a sell out 25,000 crowd on Saturday for Stewards Cup Day.
Ok, the weather was hardly “Glorious” over the five days and heavy rain on Sunday & Monday and plenty of watering in the weeks leading up to the meeting led to heavy ground for the opening day card and cut in the ground for most of the five days. Oh, don't get me started on the thorny subject of over-watering.
Over the next two days you can read my thoughts on the standout performers from Qatar Goodwood Festival and which horses caught my eye over the five days.
Inside today’s longer than normal piece it’s my Goodwood highlights. Plus, I have preview of this evening’s feature race at Windsor.
Qatar Goodwood Festival Highlights
Tuesday: Its Hollie Day
The late defections of Stradivarius and Spanish Mission meant the Goodwood Cup fell in to the lap of Trueshan. That’s to take nothing away from the winner who simply outclassed his field, despite not really liking the track. The 5-year-old relishes soft ground and the further they went the stronger he was. I don’t see any stayer beating him this year on soft/heavy ground this season.
Trueshan’s win was notable first Group 1 success for trainer Alan King and a second for jockey Hollie Doyle. It was a good day for Hollie as she rode a Goodwood treble on Tuesday.
Wednesday: Clean Sweep for Classic Generation In Sussex
It was a clean sweep for the 3-year-olds in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. It probably wasn’t a vintage renewal of the race with no Palace Pier in the line-up.
The winner Alcohol Free is a likeable and tough filly who goes well on rain softened ground to get the better of Poetic Flare inside the final half furlong with Sky Lantern back in third.
The runner-up would have preferred a better gallop and quicker ground. When he gets a sound surface like he did at Royal Ascot. I still see him being the best 3-year-old miler in Europe.
Sky Lantern didn’t get the best of runs when making her effort but she was still third best on the day. A step up to 1m 2f is what she needs now although connections may be minded to keep her at a mile for her next start.
Thursday: First Lady of Goodwood
Lady Bowthorpe has got better with age and racing. She had been threatening to win a Group 1 against her own sex and duly delivered on her first start over 1m 2f in Thursday’s Nassau Stakes.
Ryan Moore has set steady gallop on joint favourite Joan Of Arc with Zeyaadah close up in second. He increased the tempo three furlongs out but lost the lead to Zeyaadah coming to the final furlong. However, neither filly had the answer to the finishing kick of Lady Bowthorpe.
The other joint favourite Audarya was the disappointment of the race. She failed to pick up when asked for her effort and could only finish 5th. After the race, connections felt the sticky ground had contributed to her flat performance.
Zeyaadah had travelled through the race as well as the winner but she didn’t have the speed to match Lady Bowthorpe. Another attempt at 1m 4f looks worth trying on the evidence of this performance.
Likewise French Oaks winner Joan Of Arc shaped like she needs more of a stamina test and is worth trying over further.
With her her stamina for 1m 2f now proven. Lady Bowthorpe has more options for the rest of the season and it will be interesting to see where she heads next.
Friday: Super Suesa
Another sprint star emerged in an above average renewal of the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes. Suesa probably didn’t get home on soft ground when a beaten favourite in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. The drop back to 5f paid off as the 3-year-old put in an explosive display to come from behind to win going away with July Cup runner-up Dragon Symbol in second and the returning Glass Slippers in third.
Battaash was bidding for fifth successive in the race but the former champion 5f sprinter could only finish 7th. The small fracture in a joint that he suffered means he’s not the horse he was. I thought connections may have given a final swansong in the Nunthorpe at York’s Ebor Festival but on Saturday it was announced that he would be heading to a well-earned retirement.
Suesa will surely head to the Nunthorpe and a Knavesmire showdown with the Wesley Ward trained colt Golden Pal. Dragon Symbol and Glass Slippers could also head to York and latter would have each way claims there, given Friday was her first run since November.
Breathtaking Baaeed
Besides Suesa. There was arguably an even more impressive display from Baaeed in the Group 3-mile contest. Now 4 wins from 4 runs. You couldn’t fail to be wowed by Baaeed, who looks a new star in the making.
A son of Sea The Stars, whose full brother Hukum is a 1m 4f/1m 6f winner, is doing well to win so impressively at a mile. He only made his racecourse debut in June and he’s been brought along slowly by William Haggas. The Group 2 Celebration Mile back at Goodwood looks his likely next start before a step into Group 1 company in the Queen Elisabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
Saturday: Wonderful Arc Dream Still On
Wonderful Tonight’s Arc dream is still on after her win in the Group 2 Lilly Langtry Stakes. Keen In the early stages of the race she hit the front three out and when William Buick asked her to go, she went clear of her rivals. Tribal Craft did best of the chasing pack and managed to stay on to take the runner-up spot.
The winner wasn’t at her brilliant best on Saturday and she didn’t need to be. The return to 1m 6f really stretched her stamina.
Soft ground and a strongly run 1m 4f are her optimum conditions. Both of which she could get at Longchamp on Arc Day. The bookies didn’t react to this workmanlike success and she remains a best priced 8/1 with William Hill & Betfred for the Arc. If she gets her ground, I think she's got a great chance.
If all the Arc hopefuls turn up, the race will be one hell of an end of season finale.
Stewards Cup Falls to Commanche
There is no better sight in summer flat racing than seeing a maximum field of handicap sprinters hurtling downhill over Goodwood’s 6f course. Soft ground meant this year’s Stewards Cup and consolation race saw the field strung out like the runners in a 3m handicap chase at Chepstow in the middle of January.
The testing ground didn’t stop the improving Commanche Falls from defying a 6lb penalty to win. Gulliver so often the bridesmaid in these big field handicaps relished the soft ground and ran as well as ever in second.
High drawn horses were at advantage so the third home Great Ambassador can have his effort marked up. Although he drifted left in the final stages, he finished well clear of those who raced far side.
There were several who caught the eye in the race but more on those in the Tomorrow’s column.
Monday Racing
At Windsor there is some good prize money on offer for the final of the Fitzdares Sprint Series (18:45) at Windsor on Monday and, not unsurprisingly, a big field is set to go to post. Of the 16 declared runners six of them ran at Goodwood on Saturday in either the Stewards Cup or its consolation race It will be interesting to see how many stand their ground.
The most valuable race of the week is taking place today at Naas: Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes (2:25). It’s one of those juvenile sales races and with €300,000 in guaranteed prize money, including €148,500 on offer to the winner. Not unsurprisingly the race has attracted a maximum field of 24 runners, including five British trained runners.
Windsor
6:45 – Fitzdares Sprint Series Final Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
Capote’s Dream has done well since joining the Tom Ward yard earlier in the year. He returned to winning ways when beating 18 rivals at York last time. He edged out Mr Wagyu that day and that one landed Saturday’s Stewards Cup consolation race. He’s been nudged up 3lb for his York success but there could be more to come from the 4-year-old.
Total Commitment was 4th in the Stewards Cup and should give his running again if this race doesn’t come too quick for the 5-year-old.
Operatic is the only 3-year-old in the field. She opened her account in handicap company when getting up late over 5f here two weeks ago. A return to 6f could see her in an even better light.
Be Prepared has won two of his last five starts and maintained his good form when a ¾ length 3rd of 17 at Goodwood five days ago. That performance came over 7f so the drop back to a sharp 6f might not suit.
Treacherous finished 13th in the Stewards Cup consolation race on Saturday. He isn’t in the same form as he was last summer. However, he has shaped on a couple of occasions like he retains ability and isn’t out of this.
Chairmanoftheboard had a good 2020, winning over C&D and at Newmarket and finishing a 1 ¾ length 5th of 27 in last year’s Stewards Cup. The 5-year-old returned from a 10-month absence to finish an encouraging 5th over C&D. He was 2 ¼ lengths behind Capote’s Dream that day and he gets an 8lb pull with that one today. Granted he disappointed at Ascot last time but this has likely been the plan.
Verdict: In a race where you can have more than more dart I'm going for a couple at big prices in Chairmanoftheboard and Treacherous.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John
John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join him here – https://victorvalue.uk