WEDNESDAY Day Two
Second day here in Sussex and despite the rain which caused a large number of non runners yesterday we hope you are enjoying all the racing on right now. The Goodwood Cup was won by Trueshan ridden by Hollie Doyle while the original favourite Stradivarius was taken out due to the ground and denied a chance of winning for a fifth time.
It's a busy week of action here and we crack on with Wednesday where we have the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. The crowds are beginning to return now and will make this a special spectacle after the previous year and more without having them. The prize money also appears to be returning to something nearer 2019 levels.
We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. The meeting runs to Saturday and we'll updating throughout the week alongside the festival over at Galway.
The Qatar Sussex Stakes is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, still a Group One but with reduced prize money available this summer so we'll see if we still attract a high-class field from UK, Ireland and France. This mile-long Group 1 race has previously been won by the peerless Frankel, the French sensation Solow and in 2017, by the 20/1 shot Here Comes When. Last year we witnessed Mohaather winning for trainer Marcus Tregoning. Racing will commence at the usual time of 1:50pm with a handicap for 3yo's and the final race will be concluded at 5.20pm with another 7f handicap.
So lets look at day two we've got a pair of Group 3 races today with the Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes off at 2:25 then the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes off at 3:00 supporting the days feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 3:35.
Weather - Generally a cloudy day expected, can get a bit breezy a 50/50 chance of some showers during the day, high 20C. Though as we not going it doesn't matter as long as there is not too much more rain to change the forecast going.
2:25 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes
7f Fillies and Mares (Group 3)
Strong field of 17 line up for the 7f contest which is for fillies and mares, the Group 3 'Whispering Angel' Oak Tree Stakes today. The ladies feature a few in good form but have sadly been given the widest draws, as I'd rather rule out anything drawn higher than stall ten it would mean that the likes of Agincourt and Highfield Princess will probably struggle to feature. Sacred however has secured the one draw, and this smart 3yo who ran seventh in the 1000 Guineas over a mile will be one of the strong fancies now returning to seven furlongs. William Haggas has trained the winner of this in two of the last three seasons so clearly knows what it takes, Tom Marquand rides. Valeria Messalina [Non Runner] trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington was runner up in this last year, only a short head behind One Master, should be ready to go well again back to somewhere approaching her best when two lengths second to Pearls Galore in a 7f Fairyhouse Group 3 latest. We will pair these against the field in a fairly open renewal.
Selections - Sacred / Valeria Messalina. [Non Runners]
3:00 Molecomb Stakes
5f 2yo's (Group 3) 11 runners
Strong field of 10 line up for the 5f sprint that is the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes today. The 2yo's have all won a race with the exception of Kaboo, even so he's still very prominent in the early betting markets. Armor ought to be popular, having won on debut, was then 5th in the competitive Windsor Castle stakes at Royal Ascot with the winner that day Chipotle lining up too will therefore back them both against the rest of the field.
Selections - Armor [WON @6/1] / Chipotle.
3:35 Qatar Sussex Stakes
1m (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 9 runners
A high quality field of eleven declared (now nine runners with two non runners) for the feature race today, we have representation from France with Duhail (Andre Fabre) looks a big price for a well regarded colt and wouldn't be coming here for a holiday. Ireland of course would have several big players, Aiden O'Brien runs two now as Battleground is a non runner so relies on Lope Y Fernandez [L Dettori] also Order of Australia [R Moore] but the one to beat is surely Poetic Flare trained by Jim Bolger. Already a winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and major player having sauntered clear to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The filly Snow Lantern returned to top level form winning last time out at Newmarket and might be the one to place here today.
Selections - Poetic Flare.
Wednesday results to be updated later. Then we will prepare for Day Three which should be ready soon and we'll try and keep things going before the end of the meeting this Saturday. Thursday of course is Ladies Day usually the most glamorous day of the meeting featuring the prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes won last year by Fancy Blue is the highlight of the eight-race card and the raider from Japan looks set to return to defend her crown. Previous winners include Ouija Board, Midday and Minding. Expect fierce competition as the best of the best compete against the backdrop of the stunning Sussex Downs.
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