Glorious Goodwood day two preview and selections: Scintillating Sussex Stakes takes centre stage

In this red-hot affair we have on display this season’s heroes including 2000 Guineas triumph Kameko and giant-killing Irish 2000 Guineas star Siskin. The Group 1 showpiece of the week is sure to be a spectacle to all on this fascinating seven race card.

Here Jack Dawling (@_JDRacing on Twitter) takes us through the Wednesday card.

1:10: British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap:

To open the second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival we are met with an intriguing Class 2 handicap. David Menuisier has a very good record with middle distance horses at Goodwood, returning a +£20.50 profit to a £1 stake. Here he sends Dean Street Doll who finished two lengths behind Asiaaf, who ran on Tuesday. BE MORE travelled strongly to win the ‘Super Series Handicap’ that day and finished two lengths ahead of Dean Street Doll.

Oisin Murphy is a fan of Andrew Balding’s filly and stated “this looks the right race for her as I hope she’s still on the improve”. She is raised 4lb for winning at Sandown but that may be tough to stop her.

Ghaziyah and Nkosikazi finished second and third respectively when meeting in October at Newmarket. The latter has since gone on to land Group 3 spoils at Newcastle last time out and unless Ghaziyah can bounce back from a huge 301 day lay-off, Nkosikazi is preferred dropping back in grade and may mount a challenge to Be More.

Lake Lucerne was never on terms last time at York with conditions against her but would still take a substantial bounce back here albeit with conditions to suit. Although finishing fifth and beating only one rival, she was only four lengths off the leader and stayed on nicely so has claims, but looks like she may have a bit to find coming up against some smart fillies.

Chamade’s recent third at Newbury looks like rock solid form, being behind potential star filly Franconia and subsequent Listed winner Cabaletta. Whilst the horses who finished fourth and fifth that day have since recorded top three finishes in black type company in France. This puts her in good stead here to put in a valiant effort for Ralph Beckett, who has a 20% strike rate with middle distance three year-old handicapper’s at Goodwood.

Waliyak stayed on nicely at Ascot last time out, she’s unproven on any ground firmer than Good to Soft and looks quite a short price considering the amount of unknowns with this filly.

1:45: Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap:

Sixteen runners line up for the ‘Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap’ over two and a half miles. Summer Moon has favouritism although putting in a dismal performance last time out. He drops back in grade and could regain his form from his impressive third in the Ascot Stakes. Mark Johnston has an impeccable record with long distance runners at Goodwood so he demands respect. Couer De Lion won the Ascot Stakes that day and has been given a 3lb rise to contend with, which doesn’t seem insurmountable.

TRUE DESTINY was third in this encounter last year and it’s likely he will put in another creditable performance off 4lbs higher. His last nine races figure 312121323 and his opponents have been unable to keep him out of the first three home since November 2018. He’s almost guaranteed to run his race and it’s tough to see him out of the frame this year.

Oleg deserves a mention for Paul Nicholls and Hollie Doyle. He should appreciate this step up in trip and could handle the 3lbs rise after his success at Pontefract last time out.

2:15: Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap:

Our third race of the day comes in the form of a competitive Class 2 handicap over a mile and a half. Mark Johnston has won this affair twice in the last three years and he’ll be looking to make it three out of four with his two runners King’s Caper and Glenties. The latter went off as favourite over this distance at Goodwood in June and could only manage second, he’ll have to keep improving after his success last time out if he’s going to mount a challenge here.

Andrea Atzeni was on board Glenties that day, but today he has opted to saddle Mambo Nights, who made all on his last two appearances to record two tidy successes. If allowed to dictate the pace, which it looks like he may be able to with this field, he could be hard to pull back.

SARVAN has a very attractive long stride on him and used it to good effect to get the better of the well fancied Crystal Pegasus last time out at Pontefract. The pair pulled twelve lengths clear of third and this step up to a mile and a half will without doubt suit him. George Scott’s only winner at Goodwood was a three year old handicapper and Sarvan could put in a valiant performance here if confirming that promise from last time out.

It looks like favouritism will be fought between Win O’Clock and Encipher here. John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with the latter, who takes a drop in grade. Encipher was outclassed in the Group 2 Dante in York and may well appreciate this step up in trip. However, he’ll have to bounce back in an almighty fashion to get up here. Win O’Clock is representing Roger Charlton, who’s had success with three year-old’s at Goodwood previously. He won quite cosily last time out but this is a much tougher affair and would have to keep improving to justify such a short price.

2:45: Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3):

We witness our first Group action of the day in our fourth race as the two year-old sprinter’s battle it out for the Molecomb Stakes. Karl Burke will attempt to emulate his 2017 success in this race with entry Significantly, who’ll be attempting to get into the winners’ enclosure on the fourth time of asking, having finished second on his last three appearances. He shaped well behind Gussy Mac in the Listed ‘Dragon Stakes’ and could improve further here. A huge doubt is the fact that all of the last twelve winners had won a race prior to their win in the Molecomb, therefore Significantly comes with risks attached and others are preferred.

Night On Earth put in a very nice display last time out when getting up at Windsor with Oisin Murphy on board. This is a much tougher affair and he could be looking for a step back up to six furlongs in the future.

The winner of the Molecomb could be unlocked with two front runners in the market. Sardinia Sunset will be a popular candidate having followed up her fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot with an assertive win at York last time out. She has a 3lb allowance here and this may put her in a serious position to get into the frame. Joining the challenge with Sardinia Sunset may be STEEL BULL on his second time out. He’s very unexposed and powered home for Michael O’Callaghan at Naas. The turn of foot on display that day was very impressive and he’s in safe hands with Colin Keane in the saddle. He’s sure to get seriously involved as Michael O’Callaghan has his first runner at Goodwood and is very marginally preferred to Sardinia Sunset.

3:15: Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1):

The Sussex Stakes needs no introduction. We have on display seven of this season’s heroes to present a red-hot affair which is nothing short of the race of the season. A select, but top-class field of seven will go to post for the Sussex Stakes, including 2000 Guineas triumph Kameko and Irish 2000 Guineas star Siskin, hoping to land the spoils in the Group 1 showpiece which forms part of the QIPCO British Champion Series.

Ger Lyons’ giant killing Siskin heads the market after defeating the brutal Ballydoyle battalion of six in the Irish 2000 Guineas. The turn of foot on display that day was nothing short of top class and he’ll be hoping to emulate the mighty Frankel; who is the last horse to still be unbeaten after winning the Sussex Stakes. The Sussex Stakes has been kind to favourites in recent years, with nine out of the last twelve being victorious. But there are serious doubts; all of the last twelve winners of the Sussex Stakes had at least two runs prior that season, whereas Siskin has had the solitary one 47 days ago at a silent Curragh. Adding to this is the task that just one of the last fourteen winners have come from stall one, where Siskin is drawn. Whilst he’s a mighty prospect, it appears he may not fit the image of what is a ‘typical’ Sussex Stakes winner, which could be due to the disrupted campaign we’ve seen this summer, or could also be down to the fact that this isn’t his race to win…

Kameko demands a large amount of respect having recorded the quickest 2000 Guineas time in history when not having the easiest of rides. Oisin Murphy switched him off the rail with a furlong to go and he flew home to take the first classic of the season. Last time out he confirmed most people’s suspicions by finding a mile and a half a stretch in the Derby, finishing a respectable fourth. It seems that, while Kameko is a speedy individual, Oisin Murphy has stated that his optimum trip could be over a mile and a quarter and, whilst this is without doubt Siskin’s big assignment, Kameko may be able to go onto bigger things when stepped up to a mile and a quarter and could struggle here.

Marcus Tregoning’s Mohaather won the Summer Mile on his last appearance in impressive fashion; pulling away from San Donato by nearly four lengths. This performance confirmed his Group 1 quality and appears the one to beat. The Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot has been a good prep race for the Sussex Stakes in the past and it goes without saying that Mohaather would’ve finished up a lot closer if it wasn’t for horrible trouble in running. The winner of the Queen Anne, Circus Maximus, is on show here and looks up against it amongst these opponents.

Whilst it looks very tough to call; from a punting perspective it may be worth siding with WICHITA each way for none other than Frankie Dettori. Wichita hasn’t put a foot wrong this year, finishing a neck second to Kameko in the 2000 Guineas and a length off the exciting prospect Palace Pier in the ‘St James’s Palace Stakes’ at Royal Ascot. That race has produced five of the last twelve winners of the Sussex Stakes and it looks like Wichita may be a touch overlooked to repeat this feat.

3:45: Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (Class 2):

Things don’t get any easier after the head-scratcher of the Sussex Stakes as we are served a feast of two-year-old action over five furlongs. This affair sees only six runners, with three vying for favouritism.

Country Carnival, Pelekai and Furlong Factor met last time out and they are tough to separate. Sardinia Sunset won that affair and that form could be franked if she is victorious in the Molcombe Stakes. Furlong Factor has run since but put in a lacklustre performance at Sandown.

Charlie Appleby boasts an impressive 31.8% strike rate with two-year-old’s at Goodwood, so his filly Miss Jingles can’t be discounted from making back to back victories after just doing enough to secure a win at Sandown last time out.

Karl Burke’s contender Spright won readily last time out at York and will be hoping to record quick fire back to back successes. This is a much harder affair and it will be intriguing to see how she copes with the drop back to five furlongs.

4:20: Theo Fennell Handicap:

The finale of day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the wide open Class 3 ‘Theo Fennell Handicap’ over seven furlongs. Dirty Rascal was victorious last year but has put in four disappointing performances since moving to Tom Ward’s yard. He’s off the same mark as last year and if there is a revival to be seen I think it would be here.

Seven year old Zhui Feng is definitely worth another go at seven furlongs and seems to enjoy Goodwood, placing twice on both appearances over this distance last year. He may well be on an enticing mark to bounce back from a disappointing performance last time out and Jim Crowley is in the saddle.

Richard Fahey’s TORO STRIKE could put in a big performance having finished a respectable fifth in the Britannia Stakes at Ascot, Oisin Murphy is in the saddle and he isn’t drawn out of it in stall nine. He will appreciate the drop back to seven furlongs and is very versatile ground wise. Mountain Brave represents Mark Johnston and has four wins in her last five outings, including beating subsequent Class 2 winner Theotherside readily at Windsor last time out. She looks a good handicapping prospect but will have a lot of work to do from stall nineteen.

Although having to defy a hefty mark; Society Lion may be able to mount a strong challenge for the formidable Sir Michael Stoute. He recorded a nice performance when second last time out at Doncaster and should appreciate the way Goodwood runs. He’s up 5lbs for that performance though and is drawn in stall 16.