Our ambassador offers a preview of a bustling Saturday filled with head‑to‑head contests, highlighted by the Listed August Stakes at Windsor, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing from 4:30 p.m. The centerpiece of the evening’s Sky Sports Racing schedule is the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes (run over six and a half furlongs). This race could see a strong showing from Tom Marquand aboard the well‑conditioned Tenability, trained by the veteran William Haggas. Tenability arrives at Windsor with a solid record on the course and a proven ability to cope with softer ground.
He demonstrated his rain‑tolerant credentials at Ascot last autumn when he chased home Al Qareem in the Cumberland Lodge, handling a testing surface with aplomb. Since that performance, the gelding has been kept fresh, having defeated his stablemate Hamish at Goodwood in June and then producing a respectable third‑place finish in a Group Three at Deauville over a longer distance.
Those recent runs give him a sharper edge than the intriguing Silawi, whose form has been underwhelming after a glittering Group One International win in Canada last October and a close second to Opera Ballo in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai earlier this year. Turning to Goodwood, the most prestigious contest of the day is the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes (3 minutes 10 seconds).
I will be backing the affable Zavateri, who looks poised to secure his first victory of the season. The three‑year‑old trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, who recently ran respectably behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, also showed a decent effort in Notable Speech’s Group One at York last weekend. Though this represents a quick turnaround, Zavateri has already demonstrated Pattern‑level winning form at this track in the Vintage Stakes, and I anticipate he will prevail, likely at the expense of Qirat – last year’s surprise Sussex Stakes winner who could become a danger if he gets unsettled on the front end.
Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are always at your fingertips on your phone. Find out more. George Scott appears to have been tempted to place Forty Years On into stakes company, and he will be targeting the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap (2 minutes) at Goodwood. This progressive filly, recently raised eight pounds to a rating of 96, has been in fine form, finishing four of five in recent starts and securing a win on easy ground at Newbury in early June.
Any additional rain on the South Coast should suit her well. She will meet Andrew Balding’s Ghost Mode, a horse that triumphed at the Goodwood Festival despite a tendency to hang badly. Ghost Mode carries four pounds more and looks to be her biggest threat, although The Fingal Raven also boasts a strong record and could offer value at longer odds. William Haggas’s High Degree, a gelding who previously ran in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (2 minutes 35 seconds) at Goodwood, looks capable of giving his rivals a weight advantage.
Cieren Fallon’s mount, freshened by a pair of cheekpieces at Pontefract a fortnight ago, remains lightly raced enough to handle a modest four‑pound increase. I also see potential in Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon, who appears well‑handicapped despite a win at Epsom earlier in the summer.
He could provide a solid ride for the young Warren Fentiman if he is fully prepared after a three‑month layoff. For fans of Welsh trainer Chris Mason, All Ways Glamorous is a horse to watch.
After a commendable effort in the Shergar Cup, he may have to settle for a share of the modest prize money in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (4 minutes 55 seconds) at Goodwood. My personal pick, however, is David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who ran a strong race in defeat at York last week before struggling on softer ground four days later. His fifth‑place finish in the Stewards’ Cup at this venue suggests he can hold his own against seasoned rivals under the guidance of Danny Tudhope in this challenging finale. Looking beyond Goodwood, I expect Secret Of Life to maintain her unbeaten record in the Group Three BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (2 minutes 50 seconds) at Sandown on Saturday.
The daughter of Pinatubo, trained by Ralph Beckett, captured the Listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day and appears ready for the step up, especially after receiving a weight allowance from older, more experienced fillies. Equally compelling is Calendar Girl, a Listed winner who returned to the track at Haydock Park three weeks ago. Like Secret Of Life, she also has an entry in the Group One Sun Chariot, and trainer Owen Burrows will be hoping she can continue her upward trajectory. Sonic Angel’s two victories have come on all‑weather surfaces, yet Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt possesses the credentials to make a successful turf debut in the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes (3 minutes 30 seconds) at Sandown.
Oisin Murphy’s mount impressed by pulling clear of the 90‑rated Siouxperb on debut at Newcastle and then following up with a penalised win at Kempton Park this month. Although this is just the beginning, the colt’s entries in the Group Two Champagne Stakes and the Group One Dewhurst suggest a bright future, and he could well measure up to Godolphin’s promising Yarmouth debut winner, Rock Montreal. Hollie Doyle recently sat down with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft to discuss these prospects and more, offering insights that underline the excitement surrounding Saturday’s card. The blend of seasoned campaigners, emerging talent, and horses returning from brief spells promises a day of high‑quality racing that will keep enthusiasts glued to their screens from start to finish.