Soviet Song looks tough

Soviet Song looks difficult to beat at Goodwood on Wednesday when she defends her title in the $523,000 Sussex Stakes, the first of four weight-for-age Group 1 miles which serve as the European run-up to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The James Fanshawe-trained 5-year-old mare was most impressive last time when cruising home against her own sex in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes on July 5. Last year in this race she held off Nayyir by a neck, and that one reopposes off a promising seasonal debut when a close third in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket on June 25.

Last year's Sussex third, Le Vie dei Colori, is also in the lineup, but a pair of fast improving 3-year-olds may hold the key to the race. Proclamation was a highly impressive winner of the 7-furlong Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot at York for trainer Jeremy Noseda, while the Brian Meehan-trained David Junior has taken his last two outings at the listed level going 1 1/4 miles by a combined 13 lengths.

Not to be overlooked are Chic, the Michael Stoute-trained 5-year-old mare who beat Nayyir by 1 1/4-lengths in last summer's Group 2 Celebration Mile over the Sussex course and distance, and Ad Valorem, a 3-year-old Danzig colt trained by Aidan O'Brien who was second to Shamardal in the St. James's Palace Stakes prior to an unlucky fifth last time in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.