Proclamation prevails in Sussex

Proclamation got first run in the Group 1, $522,000 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday to deny Soviet Song a repeat win by a half-length.

Off at 3-1, Proclamation was lagging at the rear of the 12-runner field when jockey Michael Kinane saw an opportunity to steal a bead on Soviet Song, the recent Falmouth Stakes winner. Proclamation led at the eighth-pole, and while the 2-1 Soviet Song came with a late run under Johnny Murtagh, she was never catching the winner. Ad Valorem, who set the pace, was third, and Nayyir was fourth. Proclamation covered the mile in 1:40.16 on soft ground.

Proclamation, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya of Jordan, was running for just the fifth time. At Royal Ascot at York on June 14, he scored a 2-1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong Group 3 Jersey Stakes after starting widest of all in a 21-runner field.

Proclamation and Soviet Song are being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile. Jeremy Noseda, who engineered Wilko's Breeders' Cup Juvenile triumph last year, said Proclamation could use the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 24 as a prep for the Mile. James Fanshawe, trainer of Soviet Song, said he is considering the Queen Elizabeth II, Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes on Oct. 1, or Leopardstown's Matron Stakes on Sept. 10 as the Mile prep for Soviet Song.

Earlier at Goodwood the 4-1 Sir Percy improved his record to 3 for 3 with a neck score over Cool Creek in the seven-furlong Group 2 Vintage Stakes. His trainer, Marcus Tregoning, who also won last year's Vintage with Shamardal, said he is confident that Sir Percy will be better as a 3-year-old. Tregoning hinted that he might not run Sir Percy again this year.