Glorious Goodwood: Dawn Approach headlines Sussex Stakes entries

Europe's leading three-year-old Dawn Approach and older miler Farhh, both owned by Godolphin,headline 49 entries - up from 37 in 2012 - for Glorious Goodwood's top race, the £300,000 Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes, which is run over a mile on the second day, Wednesday, July 31.

Dawn Approach, trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, gained the European Champion Two-Year-Old title last season and extended his unbeaten record to seven with an impressive five-length success in the Group One QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket over a mile on May 4. He attempts to stay another half-mile in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Saturday (June 1).

Farhh, from the Newmarket stable of Saeed bin Suroor, filled the runner-up spot in four consecutive Group One contests last year, including when beaten six lengths by the mighty Frankel in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, and returned this season with a dazzling four-length victory over Sovereign Debt in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 18.

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Ireland’s champion Aidan O’Brien has made 15 entries, the most of any trainer, who are headed by easy Irish 2,000 Guineas scorer Magician, the 2012 Group One St James’s Palace Stakes victor Most Improved, and Lockinge Stakes fifth Declaration Of War.

As well as Magician, O’Brien has entered 11 other three-year-olds including Group One-winning juveniles Pedro The Great and George Vancouver, the highly-regarded Cristoforo Columbo and QIPCO 1000 Guineas third Moth.

The Classic generation could also be represented by QIPCO 2000 Guineas runner-up Glory Awaits, Craven Stakes winner Toronado, who is one of five entries for Goodwood’s leading trainer Richard Hannon, and exciting fillies Just The Judge and Flotilla, who annexed the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) respectively.

There are exciting older fillies and mares, including Sajjhaa, a dual Group One winner in Dubai for Godolphin earlier this year, the Wildenstein Family’s Beauty Parlour from the stable of Sir Henry Cecil who sent out the great Frankel to win the QIPCO Sussex Stakes in the last two years, and the John Gosden-trained Elusive Kate.

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Four-year-old Elusive Kate was the joint top-rated two-year-old filly in Europe in 2011 after a three-length win in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac and doubled her Group One tally last season when taking the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, France, in July. The daughter of Elusive Quality was last seen out in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot in October, finishing third.

Patrick Barbe, racing manager to her owner Teruya Yoshida, revealed: “It will be up to John Gosden but the QIPCO Sussex Stakes is an option for Elusive Kate.

“She had a very good season in 2012 and was probably unlucky not to win the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket as well. Not only did she stumble coming out of the stalls, but one of her shoes twisted badly and it’s a miracle she didn’t hurt herself. She was basically running on three wheels that day.

“It is so far so good with her this season and she will probably start off at Royal Ascot next month in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over a mile. We will see how she gets on and take it from there.

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“As we experienced with Sahpresa, there is a very good programme for the older filles and mares in the second half of the season so there is no point racing early.”

Other notable QIPCO Sussex Stakes entries include Dubai World Cup fourth Side Glance, trained by Andrew Balding, Roger Varian’s Lockinge Stakes third Aljamaaheer, and Group Two Sandown Mile scorer Trumpet Major.

Adam Waterworth, Managing Director of Goodwood Racecourse, commented: “The entries for the 2013 QIPCO Sussex Stakes are strong both in terms of quality and numbers. We are delighted.

“All of the leading milers from Britain, Ireland and France have been entered, which is very positive.

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“There is a good mix of three-year-olds and older horses - that is what the QIPCO Sussex Stakes is all about.”

The QIPCO Sussex Stakes is part of the British Champions Series.

Glorious Goodwood takes place from Tuesday, July 30 through to Saturday, August 3 inclusive at the world’s most beautiful racecourse and is an intoxicating mix of high-class horseracing, fashion and social occasion.

Get all the latest news and views from Goodwood in the Observer - out every Thursday

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