Our ambassador shares her assessment of the thrilling 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 build a solid argument against Bow Echo, who is set to defend 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 spectacular fashion and then added a victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, impressing his connections at every turn. This will be Bow Echo’s first encounter with 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 race in the past ten years. If there is any horse capable of upsetting the balance in the Sussex Stakes, it is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo. The colt produced a gutsy performance in the Queen Anne Stakes and could prove difficult to restrain on a course that tends to favour front‑runners like Bow Echo.
Charlie Appleby’s charge has been building a solid reputation, with a Group One triumph in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, a convincing win over Field Of Gold, and a subsequent Summer Mile victory with Zeus Olympios at Sandown. Aidan O’Brien’s sturdy Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is a true fighter but lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses.
That deficiency could be his undoing on the undulating Downlands. Richard Hannon and Sean Levey also have promising prospects at Goodwood this week, but none are as intriguing as Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3:35) on Wednesday.
The daughter of Persian Force has already proven herself at the course and over the distance, having secured a novice win in May before stepping up to contest the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She was only two lengths behind Victorious in that race, finishing a respectable runner‑up, and that form commands respect in this field. I would love to see trainer Rebecca Menzies claim a big victory with her unbeaten colt Adonius, who has been carefully managed since extending his perfect record in the Lily Agnes at Chester. He possesses blistering speed and could be a real factor.
Likewise, it would be gratifying to watch Archie Watson’s Flight Signal rediscover the promise shown on debut after a disappointing run in the Norfolk Stakes. After a lackluster showing at Royal Ascot, Flora Of Bermuda rebounded in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York and now targets the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3:00) at Goodwood. Andrew Balding’s mare has the ability to step up to seven furlongs with ease, especially with a low draw that suits her running style.
She will test the form she displayed in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot against market favourite Sayidah Dariyan. While she was not beaten by a wide margin in that sprint, whether she can sustain the extra distance as fluently as Flora Of Bermuda remains to be seen. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also boasts top‑class credentials at this distance, having captured the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last season.
However, she must recover from a poor showing in the Commonwealth Cup, and a tongue‑tie will be employed for the first time to help her settle. Never miss a story – stay updated with the latest racing news, interviews, and features on your mobile device. On a personal note, I hope my husband Tom Marquand can secure a winning start on Wednesday in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1:50) aboard William Haggas’s promising colt Infraad.
The Pontefract‑trained novice has shown he can handle a step up to a mile and a half after a solid 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. For the latest horse‑racing updates, interviews, and features, follow Sky Sports Racing. The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5:40) looks wide open, but the booking of Ryan Moore on Crimson Spirit could be decisive.
Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, a strong second at Newmarket last time out, draws stall 10, which is not ideal, but he won a large‑field handicap over the same course and distance back in May and is being treated fairly given his higher rating. Favourite Bobby Bennu, trained by Roger Varian, has not won on turf for a long period and has shown his best recent form on an artificial surface.
A three‑pound weight increase 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.