Goodwood: Dawn Approach, Tornado meet again in Sussex Stakes

A short head separated Dawn Approach and Toronado in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18. As of Monday, little separated the two 3-year-old colts in the betting for Wednesday’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood meeting in southern England.

Dawn Approach, who won the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, was the 5-4 favorite in early betting with the bookmaking firm Coral, a slight choice over Toronado at 6-4.

The $460,000 Sussex Stakes over a mile will be their third meeting this year. Toronado, trained by Richard Hannon, was fourth in the English 2000 Guineas. He won the Grade 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April at the start of his season.

Dawn Approach, trained by Jim Bolger, was last of 12 in the English Derby as the 5-4 favorite on June 1.

Both colts overcame trouble in the St. James’s Palace Stakes – Dawn Approach was bumped by a rival in the stretch, while Toronado was steadied at the start and raced in traffic in the stretch.

The field of seven in the Sussex also includes the 4-year-old Declaration of War, who won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and was second to Al Kazeem in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 6.

In Wednesday’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes for 2-year-olds, Parbold, second in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, tries to win his first stakes in the race, run over seven furlongs.