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 perspective on the rest of the day's card. It is hard to build a solid argument against Bow Echo, who will be risking his unbeaten record in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4:10) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday. George Boughey's colt impressed everyone with a dominant Guineas win and then followed that up with a victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Since then he has continued to delight his connections in training, showing the speed and composure that mark a true champion.
Bow Echo will be stepping up to face older horses for the first time, but a favourable draw in stall four and an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance give him a strong hand. If everything goes to plan, he could become the fifth three‑year‑old to capture this Group One race in the past ten years, joining a short list of elite juveniles who have successfully made the transition to senior company. One opponent who could upset the balance in the Sussex Stakes is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo.
The colt ran a courageous race in the Queen Anne and has shown he can stay on strongly when pressed. Opera Ballo prefers to race near the front, and the Goodwood track, with its undulating straight and demanding turns, often rewards horses that can secure a good position early. If he can replicate his front‑running style, he may prove a serious challenge to Bow Echo’s bid for victory. Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo has been building an impressive résumé.
He claimed Group One glory in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, then added a smooth win over Field Of Gold and followed that with a Summer Mile triumph on Zeus Olympios at Sandown. Those performances demonstrate his versatility over a range of distances and his ability to handle different ground conditions, making him a credible threat on the Goodwood turf.
Aidan O'Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is a gritty contender. He possesses a relentless fighting spirit, but he lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo displays in the final furlongs.
That deficiency could be his undoing on the Downland course, where a sharp acceleration is often required to fend off late‑running rivals. Among the other entries, Richard Hannon and Sean Levey have strong chances, yet none appear as compelling as Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3:35) on Wednesday. Pershaada, a daughter of Persian Force, has already proved herself a course and distance specialist, having won 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 in this field.
Rebecca Menzies could also celebrate a major win with her unbeaten colt Adonius, who has been carefully managed since extending his unbeaten run in the Lily Agnes at Chester. Adonius possesses blistering speed and, if given the right ride, could be a serious contender in the upcoming contests.
Archie Watson’s Flight Signal is another horse worth watching. After a promising debut, the colt struggled in the Norfolk Stakes, but a return to form is possible with a suitable distance and a tactical ride.
Flora Of Bermuda, who rebounded from a disappointing Royal Ascot run by winning the Group Three Summer Stakes at York, will target the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3:00) at Goodwood. Trainer Andrew Balding believes she can handle the step up to seven furlongs, especially with a low draw that could give her an early advantage. Her recent form suggests she could confirm the strong Newmarket performance she displayed earlier in the season. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos also merits attention.
The filly captured the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last year, demonstrating top‑class ability over seven furlongs. However, after a lackluster showing in the Commonwealth Cup, she will be fitted with a tongue‑tie for the first time, a change that could help her regain her previous brilliance.
For racing fans who want to stay up to date, the latest news, interviews and features are available on mobile platforms, ensuring you never miss a story. On the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1:50), my husband Tom Marquand hopes to make a winning start on Wednesday 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 opposition at Chester. The handicapper has left him at a rating of 90, which could give him a competitive edge over a strong 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. Ryan Moore’s booking on Crimson Spirit could prove decisive, especially as the five‑year‑old, trained by Dan and Claire Kubler, posted a good second at Newmarket recently. Although drawn in stall 10, Crimson Spirit has previously won a large‑field handicap over the same course and distance in May, suggesting he can overcome a less favorable draw.
Bobby Bennu, a likely favourite trained by Roger Varian, has struggled to win on turf lately, performing better on synthetic surfaces. A three‑pound rise in his weight makes his task more difficult, prompting me to look for value elsewhere, such as with Crimson Spirit. Overall, the Goodwood card offers a blend of proven Group winners, rising novices, and seasoned campaigners, each with a realistic chance of success. Hollie Doyle’s insights, delivered in conversation with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, provide a valuable guide for punters and racing enthusiasts alike.