Glorious Goodwood Service – Day 3

Wed, Jul 28, 2010

By Ian Grimwood

A big thank you to Neil for stepping in for me on my absence from the office for the last two days.

2.10 Goodwood
AATTASH hails from a Mick Channon stable that hasn’t really been amongst the winners of late but his last time out victory has been franked impressively by the runner-up that day going on to score twice, most recently at this meeting on Tuesday. The winner that day finds himself 6lb higher here but ever since connections elected to make the running with him his form has improved dramatically. This is his toughest ask to date but if Sam Hitchcock can grab the early lead then he could lead his rivals a merry dance. In a typically competitive handicap there are plenty more to consider…Sir Michael Stoute is double handed with both London strip and Markazzi. However his Freemason Lodge haven’t exactly been banging in the winners of late (Harbinger aside!) and so I’ll reluctantly let them pass. Capponi and Beachfire are chasing hat-tricks and in their current moods must be respected and it’s difficult to split the pair. Solicitor, a stable mate of Capponi, won in effortless fashion at Beverley last time and although this is a big step up in class his featherweight makes him a danger. BIG AUDIO is saddled with top weight but this dual Listed winner is probably the class act in the race and he should be all the better for his seasonal reappearance at Sandown in May. His 4th place finish in last year’s Vintage Stakes shows he will handle the track fine and although he must concede lumps of weight I couldn’t safely ignore his chances. Two others worthy of a mention are Cumulus Nimbus, who beat Sour Marsh last time and that one runs today, Wednesday, in the 4.00 so a big run from him would increase the chances of the Hannon runner and finally Rigidity who was only just touched off at York last time and although he has been raised 10lbs for finishing runner-up he remains unexposed.

2.45 Goodwood
A couple of three-year-olds have won this over the last ten years and of the classic generation MISTER MANANNAN is the one I’m most interested in. He started his season in flying form, winning a Listed race in France. However things perhaps haven’t quite gone his way since then but this contest looks ideal. He has bags of speed and this track will suit him down to the ground so an improved display would come s no surprise. Borderlescott is the best horse in the field on official ratings and I can forgive him his defeat at Chester last time so there is no reason why he won’t go very close. However I’m going to take a chance on US raider STARFISH BAY. In recent years the success of overseas runners in our sprint races has been well documented and the fact this race has been upgraded to Group 2 status this year has attracted Todd Pletcher’s runner. She has won both her last two races, both on firm ground, and you can safely assume she’ll be one of the first out the stalls. That could spell trouble for the rest as if she gets away quickly her rivals may struggle to peg her back.

3.25 Goodwood
Five of the last six renewals have gone the way of the market leader and at the time of writing that is the Aidan O’Brien trained AGE OF AQUARIUS. He was a strong fancy for the Gold Cup and ran a cracker to just be denied by Rite Of Passage. That was his fourth consecutive runner-up finish so that is always a concern but his form is solid and he lost nothing in defeat last time. There seems no reason to desert him off the back of that run. It was interesting to hear Frankie Dettori’s comments about Kite Wood in the lead up to the meeting, suggesting he was a horse he was very much looking forward to riding. However, he needs to bounce back from a very poor effort at Ascot last time if he is to figure. That said, many horses run below par at Ascot these days so we can’t be too quick to dismiss him. For me though the danger could be TACTIC who proved his victory at York on his penultimate start was no fluke by following up over in Ireland. On that day he beat high class mare Profound Beauty and that means he is a serious contender. Purple Moon is interesting, dropping back in trip, but he remains without a win since his Ebor success in August 2007.

4.00 Goodwood
Three of the seven winners of this race were three-year-olds but this renewal looks likely to be dominated by older runners. Leading the charge is Godolphin’s FLYING CLOUD who was last seen finishing second in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes. She has winning form up to and including 1m 4f but this will be her first try at the extra two furlongs but there is every chance she will last the distance and thus take the beating. There are some decent fillies in the line-up, the likes of Rosika, Polly’s Mark, Starfala etc but Flying Cloud sets a high standard. The one to cause her the most problems could be Mark Johnston’s Eastern Aria who was very game from the front at Newmarket last time and a repeat of that would see her in the picture. Frankie’s mount is the one to beat though.

4.35 Goodwood
Electra Star finished in front of KALAHAAG when the pair made their debuts at Newbury earlier this month but with the form of the Richard Hannon teamed at present it’s not hard to think that his runner could reverse the form here. Both should improve from their runs but it’s difficult to argue with Hannon at present. DUBAWI GULF ran with plenty of encouragement when second on her debut at Doncaster and she is the danger with further improvement likely off the back of that run. She showed a willing attitude that day and looks a decent filly in the making. Debutants Regal Heiress and Star Cocnert are worth a market check.

5.10 Goodwood
Thought good enough to contest the Coventry Stakes last year, RAKAAN has generally been a consistent sort throughout his career and looks capable of another good run here. His latest effort saw him finish second behind Start Right (a winner at Goodwood on Tuesday) and prior to that he was a comfortable winner of a decent looking Sandown handicap. Trip and ground look fine and with Ryan Moore booked for the ride he is a solid selection. Lowdown was disappointing at York on Saturday so needs to return to form to figure while Freeforaday makes plenty of appeal based on his 4th place finish in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes last month, a run he failed to repeat in the Bunbury Cup last time. FIREBACK had the beating of Rakaan in May and Andrew Balding’s runner was a good winner of a fiercely competitive handicap at Newmarket last time. A 7lb higher mark makes life tougher but he is on good terms with himself at present. Cansili Star was a beaten favourite last time but prior to that had rattled up back-to-back wins and is still not fully exposed.

5.45 Goodwood
BAJAN TYRST ran a cracker to finish 3rd at the Curragh on his last start and from basically the same mark here it’s hard to imagine him not being in the frame. You could probably argue his best efforts have come on the AW but he is still a major player. Matsunosuke is tuned out quickly after a runner-up finish in a 19 runner handicap. A repeat of that will see him go close but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to roll just four days after his weekend exertions. Medici Time is a solid yardstick while the inform Piazza San Pietro is another to consider but the other horse on the shortlist is INDIAN TRAIL. Partnered by Kieren Fallon, on the best of his form this year he has a major chance and he is slowly edging down the handicap which makes him a dangerous customer if everything drops right for him.