Our correspondent offers a preview of a bustling Saturday at Windsor, where the Listed August Stakes will be featured and broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing from 4:30 pm. The evening’s headline race on the channel is the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes, scheduled for 6:30 pm. This contest could see the talented Tom Marquand aboard the well‑trained Tenability, who is in the care of the respected William Haggas. Tenability arrives at Windsor with a solid record at the venue and a reputation for handling softer ground without any trouble.
He demonstrated his versatility last autumn at Ascot when he chased home Al Qareem in the Cumberland Lodge, thriving despite the rain‑slicked turf. Since that performance, the horse has stayed fresh, having defeated his stable companion Hamish at Goodwood in June and then secured a respectable third place in a Group Three at Deauville over a distance that exceeds the Windsor trip. When compared with the intriguing Silawi, Tenability’s recent form looks more compelling. Silawi has under‑delivered relative to expectations, especially after a brilliant Group One International win in Canada last October and a strong run in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai this January, where he finished close to the winner Opera Ballo.
Those achievements have set a high bar, but Tenability’s consistency at the track and his proven ability in wet conditions give him the edge in the August Stakes. Turning to Goodwood, the most prestigious race of the day will be the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes at 3:10 pm.
Among the entries, the affable Zavateri stands out as a strong contender for his first victory of the season. The three‑year‑old, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, showed a respectable effort behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and held his own in Notable Speech’s Group One at York last weekend.
Although he is making a quick turnaround, Zavateri has already demonstrated Pattern‑level form at this course, having won the Vintage Stakes there. I anticipate he will take the win in a relatively ordinary renewal, potentially at the expense of Qirat, the surprise winner of last year’s Sussex Stakes, who could become a dangerous front‑runner if he gets a clear run. For those following the daily racing news, Sky Sports Racing provides a constant stream of updates, interviews, and features that can be accessed on mobile devices.
Stay tuned for the latest insights. George Scott appears to have been tempted to place Forty Years On in stakes company, and he will be targeting a promising spot in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap at Goodwood, run over two miles. This progressive filly, recently raised by eight pounds to a rating of 96, has shown a strong turn of foot, finishing four out of five in recent outings and winning on easy ground at Newbury in early June.
Any additional rain on the South Coast should suit her well, as softer turf typically enhances her stamina. Her main rival in the handicap is Andrew Balding’s Ghost Mode, a horse that triumphed at the Goodwood Festival despite a tendency to hang.
Ghost Mode carries four pounds more than Forty Years On, making him the filly’s biggest threat, while The Fingal Raven also offers good value at longer odds, given its solid form. William Haggas’s gelding High Degree, a son of the champion Too Darn Hot, looks capable of handing his rivals a weight advantage in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap at Goodwood. Cieren Fallon’s mount, recently fitted with cheekpieces for the first time at Pontefract, remains lightly raced enough to cope with a modest four‑pound increase.
Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon also appears well‑handicapped despite a win at Epsom earlier in the summer. If the horse is fully fit after a three‑month break, it could give the young Warren Fentiman a solid ride. Fans of Welsh trainer Chris Mason will be eager to see All Ways Glamorous, who performed admirably in the Shergar Cup, but the horse may have to settle for a share of the modest purse in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap at Goodwood. My personal pick for that race is David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who ran a strong race in defeat at York last week before struggling on softer ground a few days later.
His fifth‑place finish in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood suggests he can hold his own against seasoned rivals, especially under the guidance of trainer Danny Tudhope. At Sandown on Saturday, I expect Secret Of Life to maintain her unbeaten streak in the Group Three BetMGM Atalanta Stakes.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, this daughter of Pinatubo captured the Listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day and seems ready for a step up in class, especially after receiving a weight allowance from older, more experienced fillies. Another contender worth watching 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 All‑Weather victories have highlighted his potential, and owners Simon and Ed Crisford are confident that their colt can make a successful transition to turf in the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown.
The horse impressed on debut at Newcastle, pulling clear of the 90‑rated Siouxperb, and followed that with a solid run under a penalty at Kempton Park this month. Looking ahead, the colt’s future looks bright, with entries already secured for the Group Two Champagne Stakes and the Group One Dewhurst.
He should be able to test the mettle of Godolphin’s promising Yarmouth debut winner, Rock Montreal, in those upcoming contests. All of these insights come from Hollie Doyle’s conversation with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, offering a comprehensive view of the Saturday card and the horses to watch across Windsor, Goodwood, and Sandown.