Excitement lead to disappoint on day one when Stradivarius’s chance at history was washed away by wet ground. Don’t let that put you off though as history was a few days away in the form of Battaash. From the stayer of a lifetime to the sprinter of a lifetime, Battaash returns to Glorious Goodwood to see if he can make 5 in a row in the GII King George Qatar Stakes. Despite his dominance in this race, the field lining up beside him includes a slew of talented runners led by the 2021 debut of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, Glass Slippers, as well as first past the post in the GI Commonwealth Cup in Dragon Symbol. It will be an absolute cracker of a race so (weather permitting of course) don’t miss out on another chance at history in the making!
Race 1 – Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Goodwood Handicap – 2 5/8 Miles, 3 & Up
6 – Calling The Wind – An interesting move by trainer Richard Hughes last time out as he jumped the horse from 1 1/2 Miles to the 2 3/4 Miles and received a good effort that day. Calling The Wind had performed prior going long but only at 2 Miles. Based on past form I would think he has the chance to get this distance and will appreciate the give in the ground.
11 – Platinum Nineteen – All signs have been strong on his way up the grades, moving all the way from class 6 in 2019 to a dominant victory in class 3 company last time out. The pedigree jumps off the page for a horse that is looking to stay this distance, being by Australia out of a mare by the great german stallion, Monsun. Missed all of 2020 but came back first up with a super strong performance at Beverley, as well that it was over pretty soft ground.
20 – Smart Champion – I don’t know what the specific distance limitations are of the progeny of Teofilo, but from what I have seen they can run all day. This gelding by the son of Galileo has put together some solid efforts in class 3 handicap company and continues to progress throughout the season. Had raced up in class 2 company back in 2020 and looks to be slowly getting back to that form on a track that he is very familiar with in Goodwood.
Race 2 – GIII Bonham Thoroughbreds Stakes – 1 Mile, 3 Year Olds (Which have never won a Group 1 Pattern(Stakes) race)
1 – Baaeed – Did not disappoint as the heavy favorite in his last two starts, both of which came over a mile. 3 for 3 so far in his young career and has been nothing short of sensational in each outing, including a sharp 4 length triumph in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. Baaeed showed that explosive turn of foot that would get any connections excited for the future. Has handled different types of ground with ease and does step up to group stakes company. A full brother to Hukum, who won the Tapster Stakes earlier this season at Goodwood.
2 – El Drama – Was never going to be in contention in the GI Coral Eclipse when being the odd man out against the trio of St. Mark’s Basilica, Addeybb and Mishriff. A winner of the Dee Stakes over yielding ground at Chester, Roger Varian tried a trip to France and it did not pay off. He now gets back to his ideal level of class and shortens up in distance from the mile and a quarter. Take out the two group one races and this horse’s only losses came on the all-weather at Kempton and Lingfield. All signs point to a much improved effort today.
7 – Tasman Bay – Put together a big performance in the GII King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot. Has strong form behind Alenquer and a young galloper in John Leeper who has ability and some maturity to come. Taking a big drop in distance from the mile and a half last time out, however, it’s a very similar resume to his sire, Le Havre. Le Havre’s greatest triumph was the 1 5/16 mile win in the GI Prix du Jockey Club(French Derby), however he won at listed company going 7 furlongs and placed 2nd going a mile in the GI Poule d’Essai des Poulains(French 2000 Guineas). If history is any indication, he should improve this time out.
Race 3 – Unibet Golden Mile Handicap – 1 Mile, 3 & Up
12 – Rhoscolyn – Tough to overlook this runner based on the recent form over wet ground. Won three straight including one at Goodwood. Did contest a strong performance in listed company at Pontefract on a firmer surface and ran pretty well. That last race was only his second career start over a mile and proved he could perform at the distance. Looks to wheel back after just 5 days, a similar path to Angel Bleu who won on opening day of the Goodwood Festival. Should be a very live chance in this class 2 handicap.
5 – Magical Morning – A winner last time out and has the services of Frankie Dettori, Magical Morning showed great ability to stay the trip. One of the younger horses in this field and has shown his best hand over good ground. It may be close to that or a little worse condition coming into today’s card, but this runner will still be a live chance either way.
2 – Bedouin’s Story – Taking an angle off of the fact that horses coming back from Meydan have seemed to improve after a couple starts on european soil. Bedouin’s Story is no exception to that rule, running decently well in a class 2 handicap at Sandown over this distance in his last start following an abysmal effort at Ascot. The ground at Ascot had very little give and that didn’t seem to play to the liking of this runner. A winner in handicap company at Meydan and placed in the GIII Dubai Millennium, this Godolphin runner has shown flashes of ability and if he can continue to improve with more time in the UK he is worth an outside chance at a big price.
Race 4 – GII King George Qatar Stakes – 5 Furlongs, 3 & Up
11 – Dragon Symbol – Part of me thinks I may be chasing him to win after he would be the current horse of the year that hasn’t won a stakes race. He has crossed the wire twice on two separate occasions including last time out in the GI July Cup, as well as being placed there following interference in the stretch of the GI Commonwealth Cup against Campanelle. He’s never missed a placing in his career and has only gone this distance once before, resulting in a strong victory at Hamilton. Despite the loss, I thought his race at Newmarket last time out was his best and as amazing as it sounds he is still progressing. If you’re looking for the best chance to deny Battaash his 5th straight King George, here he is.
3 – Battaash – Looking for his 5th consecutive win in this prestigious sprint race, we get a chance at redemption for history in the making with Battaash. His first run of the season came at Ascot, where he ended up 4th which wasn’t the Battaash we had hoped to see, but it was his first start in almost 10 months. He gets back to one of the tracks he has loved during his dominant career but faces a stiff challenge today. I think his run improves from Ascot but given his short price I am willing to take against in the win column.
1 – Arecibo – Has been running extremely well this season and has that win over soft ground at Newmarket to back up his form in this spot. I’ve always been a fan of the Coral Charge Stakes as a race that has good form around it and his effort there was very impressive. Jockey Jamie Spencer has given this horse two wonderful rides since he got the mount and will not be far off from competing with the best in this field going forward.
Race 5 – GIII Glorious Stakes – 1 1/2 Miles, 4 & Up
8 – Passion And Glory – Back to back wins in handicap company by open lengths. Moves up in class and distance for this run which will be a test but on ability has proven it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Majority of the poor form from this runner came during a trip to Meydan this winter. This is a trend that’s shown up this season when horses who struggled in Dubai seemed to handle it much better when they came back to Europe. If the last two efforts were as good as they looked, it won’t take much improvement to contend for the victory today.
5 – Mogul – Has struggled his last two starts after a dominant win in the GI Hong Kong Vase. Like Order Of Australia, I thought the long prep with a trip to Breeders’ Cup and the HK International Races took a lot out of them. Order Of Australia needed a few starts to find better form and I think Mogul may be the same situation. I don’t particularly love the horse but he is 3rd up for the prep and is very much due to improve.
1 – Euchen Glen – It does not matter how old he gets, Euchen Glen is a horse that is hard not to love. At the start of this season it seemed like his performances were reflecting that he was slowing down, albeit facing some talented horses in group threes like Al Aasy and Japan who were early in their preps. He got the soft ground at Sandown for the GIII Brigadier Gerard and supplied another dazzling performance, dominating a similar field to this one. He has since won again over soft ground and the conditions could be perfect for him today given the forecast. He has gone from a horse you hope would be able to win back to a horse you expect to be able to win at this level.
