Our ambassador offers a preview of a packed Saturday meeting that includes 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 coverage is the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes, scheduled for a 6.30 p.m.
start. This race is likely to feature my husband Tom Marquand aboard the well‑regarded Tenability, trained by William Haggas. Tenability has a solid record at Windsor and, as the weather forecast suggests, he should be comfortable in softer conditions – a point underscored by his performance at Ascot last autumn when he chased home Al Qareem in the Cumberland Lodge under heavy ground. Since his victory over stablemate Hamish at Goodwood in June, Tenability has been kept fresh.
He then travelled to Deauville, where he produced a respectable third‑place finish in a Group Three over a distance that exceeds the Windsor trip. That recent form gives him a stronger résumé than the intriguing Silawi, who has under‑delivered relative to his previous achievements.
Silawi captured the Group One International in Canada last October and later ran a credible race in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai in January, finishing close to the winner Opera Ballo. However, his recent displays have not lived up to those lofty standards, making Tenability the more compelling contender.
Turning to Goodwood, the most prestigious contest of the day is the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes at 3.10 p.m. I will be backing the affable Zavateri, who appears poised to secure his first win of the season. Zavateri, a three‑year‑old owned by Eve Johnson Houghton, has been gradually stepped up in class.
He ran respectably behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and held his own in Notable Speech’s Group One at York last weekend. Although this is a quick turnaround, Zavateri has proven he can handle the track, having previously won the Vintage Stakes there.
I anticipate he will take advantage of a potentially chaotic finish, especially if Qirat – last year’s surprise Sussex Stakes victor – becomes unsteady on the front end. Never miss a story: the latest racing news, interviews, and features are now available on your phone. Stay tuned for more. George Scott appears to have been tempted to place Forty Years On in a stakes company, and he will be targeting the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap at Goodwood, run over two miles.
The progressive filly has been raised eight pounds to a rating of 96 after a strong four‑out‑of‑five run on easy ground at Newbury in early June. Any additional rain on the South Coast should suit her, as she thrives on softer going. Her main rival appears to be Andrew Balding’s Ghost Mode, who won at the Goodwood Festival despite hanging badly. Ghost Mode carries four pounds more than Forty Years On and looks to be her biggest threat.
Yet The Fingal Raven also boasts a solid form line and could offer value at longer odds. In the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap at Goodwood (2.35 p.m.), William Haggas’s gelding High Degree, a son of Too Darn Hot, looks capable of handing his rivals a weight advantage. Cieren Fallon’s mount was invigorated by the introduction of cheekpieces at Pontefract a few weeks ago and remains lightly raced enough to cope with a four‑pound increase.
I also see potential in Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon, which appears well‑handicapped after a summer win at Epsom. If the colt is fully fit after a three‑month break, he could give rising jockey Warren Fentiman a solid ride. For those following Sky Sports Racing, the latest horse racing news, interviews, and features are always at hand.
Welsh trainer Chris Mason’s All Ways Glamorous, who performed admirably in the Shergar Cup, may have to settle for a share of the modest prize money in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (4.55 p.m.) at Goodwood. My 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 handle the staying test and could outstay some battle‑hardened rivals under the guidance of Danny Tudhope.
Looking ahead to Sandown on Saturday, I expect Secret Of Life to maintain her unbeaten record in the Group Three BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (2.50 p.m.). Trained by Ralph Beckett, she is a daughter of the champion Pinatubo and captured the Listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day.
The step up in class should suit her, especially after receiving a weight allowance from older, classier fillies. Another contender to watch is Calendar Girl, a Listed winner who returned to the track at Haydock Park three weeks ago.
Like Secret Of Life, she has an entry in the Group One Sun Chariot and her trainer Owen Burrows will be hoping for another progression. Sonic Angel’s two All‑Weather victories have shown he can handle synthetic surfaces, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s colt possesses the pedigree to make a successful debut on turf in the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes (3.30 p.m.) at Sandown. The horse impressed when Oisin Murphy rode him clear of the 90‑rated Siouxperb on debut at Newcastle and then followed up with a penalty‑laden win at Kempton Park this month. Although the Solario Stakes is just the beginning, the colt’s entries in the Group Two Champagne Stakes and the Group One Dewhurst indicate a bright future.
He should be able to take on Godolphin’s promising Yarmouth debut winner Rock Montreal. Finally, Hollie Doyle sat down with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft to discuss her outlook for the weekend’s meetings, offering insights into tactics, form, and the ever‑changing variables that make each race a unique puzzle for punters and enthusiasts alike.