Goodwood | Race 1: 3yo Handicap
This is one of those typically competitive Goodwood handicaps over a mile and a quarter (2000m) for three-year-olds. I ride PAROLE D’ORO for Michael Bell. He didn’t run badly in the Britannia at Royal Ascot and was then beaten a short-head in a mile (1600m) handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting. He steps up a couple of furlongs here (400m) and hopefully that will bring about some more improvement.
Qirat, a 150-1 shot in England and a mere 61-1 on the American tote board, scored a shock upset Wednesday in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, Qirat is a Juddmonte Farms homebred whose entry in the one-mile Sussex had as much to do with the Juddmonte homebred Field of Gold, the odds-on Sussex favorite trained by John and Thady Gosden, than his own participation. Qirat had other ideas, stepping outside his role a bit player to steal the Sussex show, holding clear a strong finish from Rosallion to win by a neck.
Goodwood | Race 1: 3yo 0-105 Handicap
My first ride on Wednesday is OMNI MAN for Joseph [O’Brien]. I haven’t ridden him before, but he was a very good fifth in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was impressive at Roscommon the time before that, winning by 7½ lengths. He has some decent form, is lightly raced, and has improved for stepping up in trip. This is probably a similar type of race to Royal Ascot, although it’s a smaller field than you’d normally get. I’d say he has leading claims.
Field of Gold won his 3-year-old debut April 16 as the most tepid of favorites in the Group 3 Craven Stakes. Three months later, the betting markets say it’s not a question of whether Field of Gold wins the Group 1 Sussex Stakes on Wednesday at Goodwood, but by how many lengths.
Calandagan staked his claim as the best older middle-distance horse in Europe and avenged his defeat to Jan Brueghel earlier this year winning the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse.
Under an exceedingly patient ride from Mickael Barzalona, Calandagan went from last of five at the head of the Ascot homestretch to first by one length in the King George, Europe’s most important summer race over 1 1/2 miles.
Ascot | Race 2: Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes
I rode BELLA LYRA at Newmarket in a Listed race a couple of weeks ago for Richard [Hughes] where she finished third. She ran a good race and stayed on well. Six furlongs at Ascot will suit her, although she probably has a bit to find on form.
Ascot | Race 5: 3yo+ 0-105 Handicap
Rebel’s Romance has won two renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and his connections surely have their sights set on a third this November at Del Mar. The 7-year-old gelding also has captured three Group 1s in Germany and in 2024 won the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan.
Minnie Hauk scored an Oaks double Saturday at The Curragh when she won the Irish Oaks by 1 1/4 lengths. The victory came about six weeks after Minnie Hauk had captured the Oaks at Epsom.
Ryan Moore rode his fourth Irish Oaks winner as Minnie Hauk gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his eighth win in the 1 1/2-mile classic fixture. Heavily favored, Minnie Hauk paid $2.20 on the American tote.
