Younger rivals to bow to Ballo in the Sussex
DAY Two of Glorious Goodwood is headlined by the Group One Sussex Stakes (4.10pm) which offers the first chance to see a clash of the generations over a mile.
All the talk has been about the third edition of an enthralling rivalry between three-year-olds Bow Echo and Gstaad.
The record stands two-nil in favour of the former, who has beaten Ballydoyle’s Gstaad in the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes so far this season.
Gstaad got closer to Bow Echo in the latter of those, but things didn’t really go smoothly there for George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder, and I’d expect a better performance here.
Bow Echo dominates the market, and while he is greatly respected, I’m keen to take him on with OPERA BALLO.
Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old is a high-class operator that has won seven of his 10 career starts, including a Group One at Meydan in January.
His return to action in the UK saw him motor clear of the classy Field Of Gold at Sandown, before running a mighty race to finish a close-up third in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last time.
Making the running into a headwind, he set searingly fast early fractions, so it was an amazing effort to still be there at the finish.
I think this Godolphin contender is much better suited to running round a bend, so if allowed to turn into the Goodwood home straight and freewheel downhill, both Bow Echo and Gstaad could be in for a fright when they attempt to reel in a horse of his calibre.
He makes most appeal at the prices and is a strong Win selection betting with World Pool via the Tote.
BOW ECHO is the main danger, and he can be included in a straight forecast with Opera Ballo.
The Group Three Oak Tree Stakes (3.00pm) looks a match on paper between Flora Of Bermuda and SAYIDAH DARIYAN.
Both have slight stamina queries over this seven-furlong trip but, Sayidah Dariyan tends to finish her races strongly and this step up in distance looks worth exploring.
She finished behind Flora Of Bermuda when they both made their seasonal returns in Listed company at Newmarket in May, but then fared better than the same rival in Group One company at Ascot.
After only two runs this season, Richard Hughes’ filly looks ready to peak here, and with Ryan Moore aboard I’ll side with her in the World Pool Win market.
Wednesday’s card is full of smaller field contests, but the same can’t be said about the closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5.40pm).
A maximum field of 20 are set to line up over seven furlongs and while big handicaps over this trip at Goodwood can be a game of roulette, I’m prepared to place my chips on two horses.
SUPERPOSITION has a poor draw in stall 14, but he can be slowly away, so it might not affect him too much.
Last time he ran on well over six furlongs at Ascot without having the pace to get involved, and this step back up in trip looks the way to go.
William Buick is an interesting booking, he looks to be progressing and is fairly weighted, so I’ll chance him Win and Place with World Pool.
The second Win and Place selection is THE FINGAL RAVEN for the in-form duo of Jamie and Saffie Osborne.
A winner in Dubai in January, this fast ground should bring out the best in him, and he is becoming dangerously well-handicapped.
POINTERS WEDNESDAY
Sayidah Dariyan (Win) 3.00pm Goodwood
Opera Ballo (Win) 4.10pm Goodwood
Opera Ballo, Bow Echo (Exacta) 4.10pm Goodwood
Superposition (Win and Place) 5.40pm Goodwood
The Fingal Raven (Win and Place) 5.40pm Goodwood