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 insights on the rest of the day's programme. Bow Echo arrives at the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4:10) with an unbeaten record, and it is difficult to mount a convincing argument against him.
The George Boughey colt burst onto the scene with a commanding win in the 2000 Guineas and followed that up with a victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Since then he has continued to impress his connections in training, displaying the speed and versatility that mark a top‑class miler.
This will be his first encounter with older horses, but a favourable draw in stall four and an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance give him a solid platform to become the fifth three‑year‑old to capture this Group One in the past ten years. The only horse that could realistically upset his plans is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo. The Charlie Appleby youngster produced a gutsy effort in the Queen Anne Stakes and appears to thrive when forced to race prominently. Opera Ballo has already built an impressive résumé, with a Group One triumph in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, a smooth victory over Field Of Gold, and a win in the Summer Mile against Zeus Olympios at Sandown.
His front‑running style could suit Goodwood’s undulating track, making him a genuine contender to challenge Bow Echo’s dominance. Aidan O'Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at Royal Ascot, is a hard‑knocking campaigner but lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses. That deficiency is likely to be exposed over the straight at the Downs, where acceleration in the final furlong often decides the outcome.
Other notable entries this week include Richard Hannon’s Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3:35). The daughter of Persian Force has already proven herself over the course and distance, having won a novice event in May before contesting the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she finished a respectable two lengths behind the winner Victorious.
Her form merits serious consideration in this field. Rebecca Menzies’ unbeaten Adonius is another horse to watch. After extending his perfect record in the Lily Agnes at Chester, he has been kept fresh and possesses a blistering turn of speed that could make him a surprise factor in the mile‑and‑a‑half contest. Similarly, Archie Watson’s Flight Signal, who showed promise on debut but was outpaced in the Norfolk Stakes, will be looking to rediscover his early form.
Flora Of Bermuda, who rebounded from a disappointing Royal Ascot run with a win in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York, is stepping up to the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3:00) at Goodwood. Andrew Balding’s filly has a low draw that should aid her progress over seven furlongs, and she will be matched against market favourite Sayidah Dariyan, a horse that performed admirably in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Whether Flora can sustain her seven‑furlong stride as effectively as she did over six remains to be seen.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos, a Group Two Rockfel Stakes winner at Newmarket last season, is another contender at this distance. After a disappointing run in the Commonwealth Cup, she will race with a tongue‑tie for the first time, a change that could help her regain her previous form.
On the broader programme, I am hoping my husband Tom Marquand will secure a winning start in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1:50) aboard William Haggas’s promising colt Infraad. Infraad, a Pontefract novice winner, is stepping 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 should give him a competitive edge against a strong field that includes Harry Eustace’s Bay Royale, a son of New Bay who may benefit from a first‑time tongue‑tie. The final race of the day, the HKJC World Pool Handicap (5:40), is wide open.
Ryan Moore’s booking on Crimson Spirit could prove decisive. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, a respectable second at Newmarket in his last outing, draws stall 10 and carries a rating that suggests he is slightly over‑handicapped.
Bobby Bennu, the likely favourite trained by Roger Varian, has not won on turf for some time and has shown his best form on an artificial surface. With a three‑pound penalty, his task becomes tougher, prompting me to look for value in Crimson Spirit. In summary, Bow Echo enters the Sussex Stakes as the clear favourite, bolstered by his unbeaten record, a favourable draw, and a weight allowance. Yet Opera Ballo’s front‑running credentials and proven Group One experience make him a serious threat.
The rest of the card offers a mixture of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, each with a storyline that could influence the outcomes. Hollie Doyle discussed these prospects with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, providing a comprehensive preview of what promises to be an exciting day at Goodwood.