Royal Ascot’s star performers are being readied to run next during the five
days of Glorious Goodwood, which gets underway on July 30 and concludes on
August 3.
The highlight of Glorious Goodwood is the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over a mile
on July 31. The £300,000 contest is set to be one of the races of 2013 with Jim
Bolger’s Two Thousand Guineas hero Dawn Approach likely to clash with Toronado
for a third time this season.
Toronado, trained by Goodwood’s top trainer Richard Hannon, had a wind
problem when fourth in the Newmarket classic, but proved himself a colt of the
highest caliber when running Dawn Approach to a short head in the St James’s
Palace Stakes last week.
Further spice to the mile showpiece could be added by Aidan O’Brien’s easy
Queen Anne Stakes victor Declaration of War and runner-up Aljamaaheer, trained
by Roger Varian.
Irish One Thousand Guineas heroine Just the Judge is also among the 49
entries for the Susex, but trainer Charlie Hills is eyeing a tilt at the Group
1, £200,000 Nassau Stakes, the fillies’ feature over just short of 10 furlongs
on August 3.
The daughter of Lawman, just touched off by Sky Lantern in the One Thousand
Guineas on her seasonal return in May, was beaten 4 1/4 lengths into third
behind the same rival in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.
“We are looking at the Nassau Stakes for Just the Judge. She has come out of
the Coronation Stakes in very good form and I am pleased with her,” Hills said
Monday. “Obviously, the draw didn’t help at Ascot but she still ran a very good
race. She got caught a bit wide and I would say that cost her second.
“We have been looking forward to stepping her up in trip and I don’t think a
mile and a quarter will be a problem for her. I can even see her getting a bit
farther than that next year.”
Trainer John Gosden has indicated The Fugue could return to defend her Nassau
crown after making a pleasing seasonal return when third in the Prince of
Wales’s Stakes, while Epsom Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture may drop back in trip
for trainer Ralph Beckett.
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