Our ambassador shares her assessment of a spectacular renewal of the Sussex Stakes on the second day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival, and offers her perspective on the rest of the day's programme. It is hard to mount a convincing argument against Bow Echo, who will be defending his unbeaten record in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4:10) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday.
George Boughey's colt captured the Guineas in impressive fashion and then followed that triumph with a victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, delighting his connections with each successive performance. This will be Bow Echo's first run against older horses, but a favorable draw in stall four and an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance give him a strong platform to become the fifth three‑year‑old to win this Group One in the past ten years. If there is any horse capable of upsetting the party, it is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo.
The colt produced a brave effort in the Queen Anne and may find it difficult to be restrained on a course that tends to favor front‑runners like himself. Charlie Appleby’s charge has been building a solid reputation, having taken the Group One Jebel Hatta in Dubai and then cruising home against Field Of Gold and the subsequent Summer Mile winner Zeus Olympios at Sandown. Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is a genuine hard‑knocker, yet he lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses and that shortfall could prove decisive on the Downs.
Richard Hannon and Sean Levey also have attractive prospects at Goodwood this week, but none more compelling than Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3:35) on Wednesday. The filly, by Persian Force, is already a proven course‑and‑distance performer, having won a novice race in May before stepping up to contest the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
She was only two lengths behind the winner Victorious in that race, finishing a respectable second, and that form commands respect in this field. I would love to see Rebecca Menzies capture a major victory with her unbeaten colt Adonius, who has been kept fresh since extending his unbeaten run in the Lily Agnes at Chester and still possesses blistering speed. It would also be pleasing to watch Archie Watson’s Flight Signal rediscover the promise shown on debut after a disappointing run in the Norfolk Stakes.
Flora Of Bermuda has already left her Royal Ascot disappointment behind with a win in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York, and she can look to continue that momentum in the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3:00) at Goodwood. Trained by Andrew Balding, the mare has the pedigree to step up to seven furlongs with ease, especially given a low draw that should suit her running style.
She will face market favourite Sayidah Dariyan, who was unplaced in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, raising the question of whether Flora Of Bermuda can sustain her form over the longer trip. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also boasts top‑class credentials at this distance after winning the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last year. However, she must rebound from a poor showing in the Commonwealth Cup, and she will be wearing a tongue‑tie for the first time, a change that could improve her focus. Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are always at your fingertips.
On a personal note, I am hoping my husband Tom (Marquand) can secure a winning start on Wednesday in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1:50) aboard William Haggas’s well‑bred colt Infraad. Infraad, a Pontefract novice winner, appears ready for the step up to a mile and a half after a promising handicap debut against more experienced rivals at Chester a few weeks ago. The handicapper has left him on the same rating of 90, which could give him an edge over a competitive field that includes Harry Eustace’s Nottingham‑based Bay Royale, a son of New Bay who may benefit from a first‑time tongue‑tie.
The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5:40) is wide open, but the booking of Ryan Moore on Crimson Spirit could prove decisive. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, a solid second at Newmarket in his last outing, draws stall 10 – not ideal – yet he won a large field handicap over the same course and distance back in May and is being treated fairly given his higher rating. Likely favourite Bobby Bennu, trained by Roger Varian, has not won on turf for some time and has shown his best form on an artificial surface. A three‑pound rise in weight makes his task tougher, so I am inclined to seek value in Crimson Spirit.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, offering her insights into the day’s top contests and highlighting the narratives that could shape the outcomes at Goodwood.