It’s day two at Glorious Goodwood, which features a blockbuster Sussex Stakes showdown between the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas winners, Kameko and Siskin, at 3.15pm.
The seven-race card is underway from 1.10pm through until 4.20pm, with the ground officially ‘good, good-to-soft in places’. Our expert has selections for day two at Goodwood below.
1.10 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap (1m2f)
William Haggas has a strong hand in the opener with Nkosikazi thriving this summer but the top-weight may struggle to hold stablemate Ghaziyah on these terms. That one lacks a recent run however and that swings preference to WALIYAK for Roger Varian and David Egan. She ran well to be second in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot last month on her handicap bow and, now 4lb higher, gets maximum respect with more to come and the form being of the rock-solid variety.
Tip: Waliyak
1.45 – Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap (2m4½f)
A real marathon test here that brings together Ascot Stakes winner Coeur De Lion as well as Summer Moon (third), SMART CHAMPION (fourth), Rochester House (fifth) and Cliffs Of Dooneen (seventh) from that race. Callum Shepherd had to weave a passage at Ascot but once he got in the clear, he followed the winner with a good late surge, going as well as anything. A 6lb turnaround is in his favour now and this low-mileage turf horse has definite scope to bag a prize of this nature.
Tip: Smart Champion @ 10/1
2.15 – Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap (1m4f)
Another tough and puzzling mission here and one in which Leicester winners Win O’Clock and A Star Above are respected alongside Italian Derby second King’s Caper. His trainer Mark Johnston won this a year ago with Sir Ron Priestley and might do so again with GLENTIES. He wasn’t suited making the running in small field affairs here (suffered interference) and at Newmarket in June but he was much better under a hold-up ride at Windsor since when getting his first win. There may be plenty more to come with William Buick up now.
Tip: Glenties @ 13/2
2.45 – Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
A field of 10 for the Molecomb and it’s very much in the melting pot. Sardinia Sunset won a Listed pot at York recently but it might not have been the deepest race. Irish maiden winner Steel Bull is very interesting just seven days on from that debut win but SIGNIFICANTLY has shown real promise in finishing second three times. Karl Burke’s charge travelled strongly at Sandown last time before being caught by a fast finisher and he can open his account on a track that will suit.
Tip: Significantly @ 7/2
3.15 – Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
Echoes of the ‘Duel on the Downs’ between Frankel and Canford Cliffs here as Kameko and Siskin, this 2,000 Guineas winners of England and Ireland last month do battle, with Summer Mile winner Mohaather thrown in for good measure.
Kameko broke the track record at Newmarket but his Derby run suggested stamina won’t be an issue. SISKIN on the other hand had to overcome trouble in running at the Curragh before accelerating away in real style. Ger Lyons and Colin Keane are enjoying a breakthrough summer and they can take this Group 1 mile.
Tip: Siskin @ 2/1
3.45 – Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (5f)
SPRIGHT took a nice step forward on second run when making all to win comfortably over 6f for the Karl Burke yard at Doncaster 10 days ago. The Charm Spirit filly has plenty speed and that will be a major asset dropping down in distance on a track such as this one. She can repel the improving Miss Jingles and standard-setting Country Carnival.
Tip: Spright @ 11/4
4.20 – Theo Fennell Handicap (7f)
Form at Goodwood is always worth putting stock in and TORO STRIKE boasts that after a pleasing C&D third in a nursery at this meeting last year. The Toronado colt backed that up at Doncaster’s Leger Festival with a fine run in the big sales races and his reappearance in the Britannia at Royal Ascot had sufficient positives in it to suggest he’ll have big claims now with Oisin Murphy taking over. Society Lion is a very viable alternative.
Tip: Toro Strike
*All odds correct at time of writing
