Our resident ambassador shares her assessment of the 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 card. Bow Echo arrives at the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) on Wednesday with an unbeaten record and a reputation that makes it hard to argue against his chances.
The George Boughey‑trained colt captured the 2000 Guineas in dazzling fashion, then followed it up with a commanding victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Since then he has continued to impress his connections in training, showing the speed and versatility that have made him a favourite among punters. This will be Bow Echo's first test against older horses, but a favourable draw from stall four and an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance give him a solid edge.
If he can translate his three‑year‑old form to the open company, he could become the fifth three‑year‑old to win this Group One in the last ten years. The one horse that could potentially upset Bow Echo's plans is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo. The Charlie Appleby‑trained colt ran a brave race in the Queen Anne Stakes and has proven that he can handle a strong pace. Opera Ballo prefers to sit near the front, and the Goodwood track, with its undulating terrain, often rewards horses that can dictate the tempo.
A well‑timed ride could see him challenge Bow Echo for supremacy. Opera Ballo’s credentials are impressive. He is a Group One winner in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, and he added a smooth victory over Field Of Gold to his résumé, followed by a win in the Summer Mile against Zeus Olympios at Sandown.
Those performances suggest he possesses both the class and the stamina to stay the mile at Goodwood. Aidan O'Brien’s Gstaad, who was Bow Echo’s runner‑up at the Royal Meeting, is another contender worth watching. Gstaad is a gritty, hard‑working colt, but he lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo displays in the final furlongs.
On the steep, right‑handed circuit at Goodwood, that extra acceleration could be decisive, potentially leaving Gstaad trailing as the finish approaches. Among the other notable entries, Richard Hannon’s Pershaada stands out in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3.35). The daughter of Persian Force has already won at Goodwood over the same distance, taking a novice event in May before stepping up to the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she finished a respectable second, just two lengths behind the winner Victorious.
Her form suggests she can handle the course and distance, and she should be a strong factor in that race. Rebecca Menzies’ unbeaten colt Adonius also merits attention. He has been carefully managed since extending his unbeaten streak in the Lily Agnes at Chester, and he possesses a burst of speed that could be decisive over the mile.
A win for Menzies would be a significant milestone, adding a Group‑level triumph to her record. Archie Watson’s Flight Signal is another horse hoping to rediscover the promise shown on debut after a disappointing run in the Norfolk Stakes. If the colt can find his rhythm, the Goodwood mile could provide the perfect platform for a comeback.
Flora Of Bermuda, who rebounded from a lackluster Royal Ascot effort with a win in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York, is entered in the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3.00). Trainer Andrew Balding believes the filly can step up to seven furlongs with confidence, especially after drawing a low stall that should aid a forward‑run style. She was close to the winner in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, and while it remains to be seen if she can sustain the extra furlong, her recent form is encouraging. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also features in the same race.
The filly captured the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last season, proving she can handle the distance. However, a disappointing run in the Commonwealth Cup means she will be equipped with a tongue‑tie for the first time, a change that could help her settle and deliver a better performance. On the broader card, I’m rooting for my husband Tom Marquand to get a winning start in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1.50) aboard William Haggas’s promising colt Infraad.
Infraad, a Pontefract novice winner, has shown enough potential to step up to a mile and a half after a solid handicap debut at Chester. The handicapper has left him at a rating of 90, which could give him a tactical advantage over a competitive field that includes Harry Eustace’s 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 be a game‑changer. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, who placed second at Newmarket recently, draws stall 10—a less advantageous position—but he has proven he can win a large‑field handicap over the same course and distance back in May.
His rating suggests he is being treated fairly, and a well‑timed ride could see him finish strongly. Bobby Bennu, the likely favourite trained by Roger Varian, has struggled to win on turf for some time, performing best on artificial surfaces. A three‑pound weight increase makes his task more difficult, prompting me to look for value elsewhere, perhaps with Crimson Spirit, who could benefit from the weight shift. Overall, the Goodwood festival offers a rich tapestry of stories, from seasoned Group One veterans to emerging novices making their mark.
Stay tuned for the latest racing news, interviews, and features on Sky Sports Racing, and keep an eye on the evolving narratives as the horses take to the track. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.