David Morgan
They call it “Glorious” and Goodwood’s five high-summer days of racing on England’s south downs are just that when the sun shines, but with a possibility of rain this week, conditions on the ground could be unpredictable especially if one of those infamous misty sea frets blows in off the English Channel.
At least one thing is certain: Tuesday’s opening day will set a high standard with tough-to-win handicaps and three high-class Pattern features, the G2 Vintage Stakes for two-year-olds, the G2 Lennox Stakes, and the big one, the G1 Goodwood Cup over two miles of climbs and descents.
Illinois aims to become the first since Opinion Poll in 2011 to win the Goodwood Cup directly off second-place in the G1 Gold Cup at Ascot over half a mile farther. The Aiden O’Brien-trained colt travelled smoothly at Ascot but lacked stamina in the final quarter-mile. He will face stablemate Scandinavia, a three-year-old in receipt of 14lb weight for age, but since 1990 only Stradivarius has won the race at three.
Go back 36 years and you’ll find Guy Harwood’s operation at Pulborough nailed back-to-back wins with Mazzacano following Sadeem. Nowadays Frenchman David Menuisier trains at Harwood’s old base – home to Grundy and Dancing Brave in Harwood’s time – and his Sunway doesn’t have much to find with Illinois on their efforts in last year’s G1 St Leger.
NAP: R2 #10 Vincenzo Peruggia
Andrew Hawkins
One of the disappointments of the British flat season so far has been William Haggas-trained Lake Forest.
While the form around his Golden Eagle win has continued to stand up – eight of the first 11 horses behind him in that 20-horse field have won Group 1 races since, including G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Lazzat – he has been the odd man out in that he has been unplaced in three subsequent starts across France and Britain. There have been justifications for each defeat but that list of excuses is wearing thin.
His next two outings will define his season and he enters Tuesday’s G2 Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs with something to prove. The race now stands as the primary lead-in to the newly elevated G1 City Of York Stakes, Britain’s first open-age seven-furlong Group 1, at next month’s Ebor Festival.
The Lennox sees him line up against veteran Kinross, a two-time winner of this race, and young gun Jonquil, who mixes his form but was beaten only a head by Henri Matisse in the French 2,000 Guineas. Throw in last year’s winner Audience and quirky three-year-old Noble Champion and it will be a good litmus test.
Now is the time for Lake Forest to stand up. ∎
NAP: R7 #9 Dash Of Azure
