Our ambassador shares her assessment of a spectacular renewal of the Sussex Stakes on the second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting, and she also offers her perspective on the rest of the day's card. It is a tall order to argue 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 first announced himself with a dominant win in the 2000 Guineas and then added a convincing victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Since those triumphs he has continued to impress his connections in training, showing the speed and stamina that make him a genuine classic contender. This will be Bow Echo's first foray against older horses, but a favorable 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 combination of a good post position, a lighter weight and his proven turn of foot should make him the one to beat. If there is any horse capable of upsetting the order, it is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo. The Charlie Appleby‑trained colt produced a spirited performance in the Queen Anne Stakes and appears well‑suited to a race that favours front‑runners. Opera Ballo has already built an impressive résumé with a Group One victory in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, a smooth win over Field Of Gold, and a subsequent summer mile triumph with Zeus Olympios at Sandown.
His versatility and proven ability to handle a strong pace mean he could be the most dangerous challenger to Bow Echo on the Goodwood track. Another contender worth mentioning is Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting. Gstaad is a gritty, hard‑nosed performer, but he lacks the explosive acceleration that Bow Echo possesses. On a course that often rewards a sharp finishing kick, that deficiency could prove decisive.
Among the other notable entries for the weekend, Richard Hannon and Sean Levey each have promising mounts, but the most attractive story may be Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3.35). This daughter of Persian Force has already won at Goodwood over the same distance, taking a novice race in May before stepping up to contest the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She finished a close second to Victorious in that Group race, a performance that commands respect and suggests she could be a serious factor in the Molecomb field.
Rebecca Menzies also has a strong chance with her unbeaten colt Adonius. After extending his perfect record in the Lily Agnes at Chester, Adonius has been kept fresh and possesses a turn of foot that could see him excel over the mile distance at Goodwood. Likewise, Archie Watson’s Flight Signal, who showed great promise on debut but struggled in the Norfolk Stakes, will be looking to rediscover his early form.
Flora Of Bermuda, who rebounded from a disappointing Royal Ascot run to win the Group Three Summer Stakes at York, will contest the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood. Trained by Andrew Balding, she should take advantage of a low draw and the seven‑furlong trip, potentially confirming the strong Newmarket form she displayed against market leader Sayidah Dariyan. While she was not beaten in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the question remains whether she can sustain the extra half‑mile as effectively as Flora Of Bermuda.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also merits attention. The filly boasts top‑class form over the distance, having won the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last season. However, she will need to recover from a lackluster showing in the Commonwealth Cup, and a tongue‑tie will be employed for the first time to help her focus.
On the broader racing news front, fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest stories, interviews and features via their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss a beat. Turning to the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1.50), I am hopeful that my husband Tom Marquand will secure a winning start on Wednesday aboard William Haggas’s promising colt Infraad.
The Pontefract‑trained novice has shown enough ability to step up to a mile and a half after a solid handicap debut at Chester, where he held his own against more experienced rivals. The handicapper has left Infraad on the same rating 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. The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5.40) promises to be wide open, with Ryan Moore booked on Crimson Spirit. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, who placed second at Newmarket last time out, draws stall 10, a less than ideal position, but he has proven his class by winning a large‑field handicap over the same course and distance in May.
He remains fairly rated despite his higher official mark. Bobby Bennu, the likely favourite, represents top trainer Roger Varian but 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, prompting me to look for value in Crimson Spirit. Overall, the Goodwood card is packed with intrigue, from the high‑profile showdown between Bow Echo and Opera Ballo to the emerging talent of Pershaada, Flora Of Bermuda and Infraad. Hollie Doyle’s insights, captured in her conversation with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, provide a valuable guide for punters and racing enthusiasts alike.