Our ambassador offers her assessment of a spectacular renewal of the Sussex Stakes on the second day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival and shares her thoughts on the rest of the day's card. It is hard to construct a solid argument against Bow Echo, who will be testing his unbeaten record in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday. The George Boughey‑trained colt burst onto the scene with a dominant win in the Guineas and then followed that up with a convincing victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Since then he has continued to impress his connections with impressive workouts and a steady progression in class. This will be Bow Echo's first encounter with older horses, but a favorable draw in stall four combined with an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance gives him a strong platform to become the fifth three‑year‑old to claim this Group One in the past ten years. If there is any contender capable of upsetting the balance in the Sussex Stakes, it is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo. The Charlie Appleby‑trained runner produced a spirited performance in the Queen Anne and appears to relish a front‑running style that suits the Goodwood straight.
Opera Ballo has already built a respectable résumé, including a Group One triumph in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, a smooth victory over Field Of Gold, and a subsequent Summer Mile win with Zeus Olympios at Sandown. Aidan O'Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is a tenacious campaigner but lacks the explosive turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses. That deficiency could prove decisive on the undulating Downhill track.
Richard Hannon and Sean Levey also have strong prospects at Goodwood this week, though none look as compelling as Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3.35) on Wednesday. The daughter of Persian Force has already demonstrated she can handle the course and distance, having taken a novice win 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 the current field.
I would love to see Rebecca Menzies capture a major victory with her unbeaten colt Adonius, who has been kept fresh after extending his unbeaten streak in the Lily Agnes at Chester. Adonius possesses raw speed and could thrive over the seven‑furlong distance. Likewise, it would be satisfying to watch Archie Watson’s Flight Signal rediscover the promise shown on debut after a disappointing run in the Norfolk Stakes. Flora Of Bermuda, after a disappointing Royal Ascot run, rebounded strongly in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York and now targets the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the mare has proven she can handle the course and distance, and a favorable low draw should aid her bid. Her form at Newmarket, where she was unplaced in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, raises the question of whether she can sustain her performance over seven furlongs, but her recent improvement suggests she is worth watching.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also boasts top‑class credentials at this distance, having captured the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last year. However, she must recover from a lackluster showing in the Commonwealth Cup, and a tongue‑tie will be applied for the first time to help her settle. Never miss a story: the latest racing news, interviews and features are available on your phone – stay informed.
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 promising colt Infraad. Infraad, a Pontefract novice winner, appears ready to step up to a mile and a half after a solid handicap debut against seasoned rivals at Chester a few weeks ago. The handicapper has left him on the same mark of 90, which could give him an edge over a competitive field that includes Harry Eustace’s Nottingham scorer Bay Royale – a son of New Bay who may benefit from a first‑time tongue‑tie. For the latest horse racing news, interviews and features, follow Sky Sports Racing.
The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5.40) is wide open, but the booking of Ryan Moore on Crimson Spirit could be decisive. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, who was a strong second at Newmarket last time out, draws stall 10 – not ideal – but he won a large‑field handicap over the same course and distance in May and is being treated fairly given his higher rating.
Likely favourite Bobby Bennu, representing top trainer Roger Varian, has not won on turf for a long time and has shown his best form on an artificial surface. A three‑pound rise in weight makes his task more challenging, so I am inclined to seek value in Crimson Spirit. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.