my bets and thoughts for glourious goodwood day 3

[ganjaman2]

2.15 Gordon’s Stakes


Day Three of Glorious Goodwood begins with a competitive handicap for horses of the Classic generation. Roman Republic and Road To Love have both given Mark Johnston victories here in the last decade and he will be hoping his pair of runners here can add to that tally. Mushaakis is marginally preferred as a result of his Ripon success last time out. The colt has been steadily progressive throughout the season and has not finished outside of the first three places on his last eight racecourse appearances. There would have to be something of a concern if too much rain gets into the ground, but if he gets his favoured conditions, he looks difficult to dismiss. Henry Candy’s CODE OF HONOR beat Mushaakis at Sandown at the beginning of this month in fine style and looks set to have a big say in proceedings this time around. He scooted clear to win by three lengths on that occasion and despite being raised to a mark of 96, he deserves some respect. He seemed to relish the step-up to ten furlongs last time and given that he is still relatively unexposed and that his trainer has suggested that he could be up to Listed class in the future, he looks difficult to oppose here. One horse who may throw a spanner in the works is Red Avenger who put two poor runs behind him when beating Broughton by three lengths on his first try at ten furlongs. He also ran well subsequently behind the progressive Maputo at Newmarket and looks to have a good chance in this competitive contest.


2.45 Audi Richmond Stakes (Group 2)


As Richard Hannon has saddled four of the last five winners of this contest, his representative in this year’s field seems the logical place to start. THUNDER STRIKE was unbeaten heading into Royal Ascot and finished fourth behind the impressive War Command in the Coventry Stakes. This saw him finish around a length and a half behind another of his rivals Parbold, although Richard Fahey’s colt sat off the pace in the early part of the race. Thunder Strike ran in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes behind Miracle Of Medinah a couple of weeks ago, but failed to fire at any stage in fifth place. He will need to bounce back to his best here, but given the form that the Hannon team have shown in recent days, that does not seem out of the question. One interesting runner to throw into the ring is the Richard Fahey-trained Salford Red Devil who has so far only visited Chester for a racecourse appearance in his four career starts. The colt most recently beat Lily Agnes winner Quatuor over five furlongs, in which he needed every yard of the trip to get his head in front. The more conventional course combined with the step-up in trip should suit and could out run his price, given his unconventional form to date.



3.15 Artemis Goodwood Cup (Group 2)


Having recorded four victories and finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup, it is fair to say that Mount Athos has improved since moving to the stable of Luca Cumani. He can boast two Group successes and a Listed victory at distances further than 1m4f and looks an interesting candidate in his first run in Britain over 2m+ since finishing fourth in the Cesarewitch of 2011. He shaped as if he 1m4f was too short for him in the Hardwicke last time and as the current market leader, he can’t be ruled out. The German raider Altano is worth mentioning, considering the success that they have enjoyed on these shores this season, most notably with Novellist in the King George last weekend. He has two Group 3 victories to his name over two miles in his native Germany on good ground and was a staying on fifth in the Ascot Gold Cup last time. There is an argument to say he was given a little too much to do there and with the step back in trip likely to suit, he looks an interesting contender. The marginal preference is for CAUCUS who seems to have found his best form at the age of six. Following victory in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes in September, Caucus found only Estimate too good in the Sagaro Stakes on his reappearance. He beat the progressive Biographer last time at Sandown, with the pair drawing well clear of the rest of their rivals. The gelding seems to be in good order and looks set to put in another big effort here.



3.45 Blackrock Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)


WILD COCO landed this race twelve months ago and bids to become the second dual winner of the race in the last decade after Tartouche in 2005 and 2006. She has only run once since then in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September, where she won readily against her female rivals. She has yet to run on a racecourse this year, but given that she won this race off a twelve month lay-off suggests her fitness should not be questioned. She is a very good filly and looks to have a good chance of giving the Warren Place team a third win in the last five years. Her most likely challenges seems to come from the Classic generation and the best of these looks to be the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Elik. She won the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood in May before finishing third in the Ribblesdale at Ascot. She was staying on well that day suggesting that the increased trip should pose no problems for the filly and given that she represents top connections, she could be the one to put it to the favourite.



4.20 EBF British Stallion Studs New Ham Maiden Fillies’ Stakes


This seven furlongs fillies’ maiden has thrown up some nice performers in recent years and this year’s renewal promises to be no different. There are some interesting newcomers from big yard such as Radiator, who is a daughter of a Grade 1 winner in the US and hails from the line that brought us stallions such as Dansili. She currently has an entry in the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket and as such could be one to keep an eye on on debut. Another interesting debutant is Remember, who represents the juvenile supremo Richard Hannon. This filly cost 52,000 Guineas as a yearling and given the form of the yard, especially with their two-year-olds, it would be foolish to not include her on the shortlist. However, it is worth noting that only one of the last ten winners of this race was making their racecourse debut, so therefore I would prefer something with a little more experience. Amazing Maria has so far had two starts, most recently behind the useful pair of J Wonder and Autumn Sunrise at Newbury. She looked to be staying on well at the end in that contest and a return to seven furlongs could suit the filly now that she has more experience. JERSEY BROWN must have shown connections quite a bit to let her take her chance in a Novice Auction race on debut, where she didn’t disgrace herself running on into fourth. That outing will have taught the filly a lot with the step-up in trip likely to suit, she looks to have a good chance.



4.50 Tatler Stakes


Charlie Hills’ Regal Dan took some time to get the hang of winning races, getting off the mark at the seventh attempt over seven furlongs at Doncaster in September. He began his three-year-old campaign with an impressive effort behind Shahdaroba before running down the field at Ascot. There were signs of encouragement last time when he was beaten less than five lengths in eight at the July meeting. The booking of Ryan Moore is an eye-catching one and returning to seven furlongs, he could run well. Richard Fahey saddled the winner of this race in 2005 with Tagula Sunrise and is represented by Majestic Moon this time around. The gelding arrives here on a hat-trick on the back of impressive victories at York and Newmarket. His latest success suggested there was still some improvement in him and although this is a step-up in class, he looks worth his place in the line-up. The marginal preference is for EQUITY RISK who was outside the frame for the first time in his career last time. That was over six furlongs and in truth he never seemed to be going for Silvestre De Sousa. He won on his only previous attempt at seven furlongs and if you ignore that last run, he looks to be a likely player in the finish.



5.25 QIPCO Future Stars Apprentice Stakes


It is often the case in these Apprentice riders races that the ability of the jockeys often has more effect than in a normal race. With that in mind, it may be best to focus on the horses being ridden by the higher profile jockeys. Thomas Brown has built quite a reputation for himself in the weighing room and partners Benzanno for his boss Andrew Balding. The four year-old has steadily come down the handicap in recent months and now running off a workable mark, he looks to have a good chance. Last year’s winning connections Mark Johnston and Michael J M Murphy team up again this year with the eight-year-old Copperwood. He recorded his latest success over nine furlongs in July at Epsom before running down the field behind Ascription earlier this week. The Johnston yard are beginning to find their form and with that in mind, he must have a good chance here. XINBAMA gets the main vote on the back of two victories at Epsom within the space of a week. His jockey Nicole Nordblad has excelled this season notching twelve winners and earning rides for other stables. The horse is heading the right way, much the same as her jockey and the pair should go close in this tricky contest.