Seven horses will go to post in the highlight of Glorious Goodwood, the Group
1, £300,000 Sussex Stakes over a mile on Wednesday. The Sussex sees the
much-anticipated “Duel on the Downs” between the exceptional three-year-old
colts Dawn Approach and Toronado.
So far the score is two-nil to Godolphin’s Dawn Approach, with the son of New
Approach taking the first British classic, the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket
on May 4, with Toronado a below-par fourth. However, the margin was much reduced
last time out when just a short-head separated the pair in the St James’s Palace
Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18.
“The races Dawn Approach has had this season did not take very much out of
him, because he was bucking and squealing two days after each one,” said Jim
Bolger, trainer of Dawn Approach. “He was very dour in the finish (of the St
James’s Palace) and he always would be if he has to be. He has a great mind and
a great constitution. He’s a very sound horse and, of course, he has the ability
to match. Since last week, he’s rated the best horse in the world so he has to
tick all the boxes to get in that position.”
“Both horses want a proper gallop, enabling them to settle, but we know that
our fellow is straightforward in that we can ride him from the front or sit on
him so as to utilize his speed,” said Richard Hannon, the trainer of Toronado.
“We think that the track will suit him and his preparation since Ascot has gone
smoothly. If we get beat, then so be it, but we could not be happier with our
fellow, and he is so much more relaxed since we moved him to Herridge and
equipped him with the spoon-bit. Fingers crossed this will be our day.”
Declaration of War is sure to provide stiff opposition to the two
three-year-olds, having taken the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The
four-year-old reverts to a mile after being runner-up in the 10-furlong Eclipse
Stakes at Sandown last time out.
“It’s a good race, it’s probably one of the races of the season,” jockey
Joseph O’Brien told PA Sport. “I think a mile and a quarter just stretched him a
little bit in the Eclipse. A strongly run mile is probably ideal for him. We
obviously have to give the three-year-olds weight, but it’s quite difficult to
compare the form of the three-year-olds and the older horses. The faster the
ground the better for my horse.”
Also set to line up in the Sussex are Gregorian, third behind Declaration of
War at Royal Ascot, and Trade Storm, fifth in the same race. Likely pacemakers
Leitir Mor and Reply complete the terrific field.
Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood also features the Group 2, £75,000 Vintage Stakes
over seven furlongs for two-year-olds. Goodwood’s leading trainer Richard Hannon
has taken the last three renewals of the prestigious contest and has two runners
this year. Toormore, the mount of Richard Hughes, won his only start at
Leicester on May 28, while Expert, partnered by Pat Dobbs, landed a maiden at
Newmarket last time out on his third outing.
“Toormore tries to emulate (last year’s winner) Olympic Glory and we think
that he is the real deal,” Hannon said. “He beat a good horse in Ertijaal first
time out at Leicester, but we took an early decision to miss Royal Ascot as we
thought he needed to mature, both physically and mentally. He is a big horse,
but one with loads of pace, and we are looking for a bold show.”
Godolphin’s new trainer Charlie Appleby is represented by Outstrip, a winner
on debut at Newmarket, while Coventry Stakes runner-up Parbold lines up for
Richard Fahey. Lanark, Recanted and Rosso Corsa complete the line-up.
The third pattern race is the Group 3, £75,000 Gordon Stakes over a mile and
half for three-year-olds. It is an established trial for the final classic
of the season, the St Leger, and six of the seven declared runners also hold
entries for the Doncaster event.
These include the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Spillway, who was seen out
most recently when enduring a torrid run in the King George V Handicap at Royal
Ascot on June 20, finishing 10th, beaten just over four lengths. Earlier in the
season he completed a three-timer, with two victories on the Polytrack at
Kempton and the other on turf at Sandown.
“Spillway has come out of Ascot really well. I think he was very unlucky in
the King George V,” Johnson Houghton said. “He just needs a bit of space to go
through the gears. That’s why we are going for a better race with less runners
rather than returning to big fields as we don’t want to meet with traffic
problems like we did at Ascot because that is so frustrating.
“There is definitely more to come from him. Just look at how close he was to
Hillstar at Newbury (2 1/2 lengths third on May 18), and that shows we’ve got
every right to be in the Gordon Stakes. I’m hopeful, very hopeful, of him
running well on Wednesday. “We will see how he gets on at Goodwood before
thinking about the St Leger.”
The other St Leger entries set to run in the Gordon include Godolphin’s pair
of Cap O’Rushes, who was fourth in the Irish Derby, and Secret Number, who was
last seen out when a staying-on fourth in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal
Ascot.
Excess Knowledge began the year with an encouraging third in the Gala Stakes
at Sandown and Havana Beat was an unlucky third in the Bahrain Trophy at
Newmarket.
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