Not a bad day at the coal face, and my call on Stradivarius’ race was bang-on.
Well that’s enough preamble…
13:10 British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap 14 Runners, Class 2, 1m 1f 197y
The first 200m will be where NKOSIKAZI will need to make her presence felt, in order to [a] take the lead and [b] lose the wide draw disadvantage. If she leads and can hold on I think she’ll win. The other Haggas runner also appeals.
GHAZIYAH wins – NKOSIKAZI e/w
13:45 Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap 22 Runners, Class 2, 2m 4f 134y
STONIFIC has lost a dozen races whenever his mark is higher than 81. Paul Nicholls has OLEG back to near his best after a wind-op over the winter, and with Hollie Doyle in the plate and a good record off a ten week break, I think he could run well but the price seems skinny. SEINESATIONAL was 2nd in this last year (neck) from the same mark, and is 8lb better off with OLEG for his third in June, and his last performance can be forgiven on going terms. TRUE DESTINY is technical running off a 2ln lower mark, which should surely improve his third last year in this. SUMMER MOON will be hard to peg back if given any kind of a lead.
SEINESATIONAL e/w – OLEG win
14:15 Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap 19 Runners, Class 2, 1m 3f 218y
Mark Johnston has a great record in this race and GLENTIES looks to be an improving type, I just wonder if he’s already done his racing this year. CARLOS FELIX and MAMBO NIGHTS both meet the key trends, but my eye was taken by the booking of Hollie Doyle for William Haggas’ A STAR ABOVE who won his handicap debut a shade easily LTO. This is a step up – but Hollie Doyle has been placed on every one of her three rides for William. COZONE looks a typical Amanda Perrett Goodwood horse
A STAR ABOVE wins – COZONE e/w
14:45 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) 13 Runners, Class 1, 5f
SARDINIA SUNSET wins – INTERNATIONAL DREAM e/w
15:15 Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) 9 Runners, Class 1, 1m
We might have already seen the best race of the week with the Strad’s victory, but this surely cannot be far behind. First two from both Irish and English 2000 Guineas and the winner iof the Queen Anne and the Summer Mile.
This year I think the 8lb WFA allowance and ther quality of the classic generation, will hold sway. Ger Lyons’ SISKIN, the stunning and unbeaten Irish 2000 Gns winner, is the favourite and has regular jockey Colin Keane in the plate – happy to endure a 14-day quarantine cutting his share of the prize money. Marcus Tregonning’s MOHAATHER who won the Summer Mile and Andrew Balding’s Guineas winner KAMEKO are next in the market. The former must be overpriced as he just 1lb higher on official ratings and carrying 8lbs more! Why so short?
Jockey bookings for the O’Brien contingent might be significant with Ryan Moore having, one assumes, first pick and he has gone for three-time Group 1 scorer Circus Maximus.
KAMEKO’s form, however, looks watertight – with both Wichita and Pinatubo, second and third behind him at Newmarket, repeating that in the St James’s Palace Stakes next time out. Readers will know I fancied him for The Derby and while he didn’t get the trip that day, I believe he is still potentially the best miler in Europe.
KAMEKO wins
15:45 British Stallion Studs Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (Plus 10/GBB Race) 12 Runners, Class 2, 5f
SPRIGHT – PELEKAI. I can’t split them. Dutch the pair.
16:20 Theo Fennell Handicap 43 Runners, Class 3, 7f
I’m almost certain I can ignore anything drawn in double digits here, so a combination of low draw strong speed figures and a decent Timeform rating gives me:
ARIGATO e/w