View from connections ahead of Saturday at Glorious Goodwood
Get the view from connections and Man On The Spot verdicts for the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
3.00 Qatar Gordon Stakes
Charlie Johnston - Dee Ex Bee: "Plan A was to bring Mildenberger here for it, but sadly he has just missed a bit too much time since Ascot and we are not happy bringing him here at this stage. We made the entry for Dee Ex Bee on Monday morning, as there were only six in it at that stage, and it was one of those we felt too good to pass by really. We don't want to go to the well too often on fast ground this summer as we want to still have the horse in good form for his main target, the St Leger.
"It looks a good opportunity for him. He is 8lb clear on official ratings. We know he handles the track as he won here last year. We will walk the track on Saturday morning and as long as we are happy, he will take his chance. After Paris it wouldn't have concerned me if we had gone straight to the Leger, but at the same time we made the entries in the Gordon and Voltigeur, as if they cut up they are races we would like to be in.
"We are glad we made the entry and are in, but at the same time we have in the back of our mind that we want the horse in the best possible order for Doncaster in September."
Man On The Spot verdict:
Just the three runners take on Epsom Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee, who will likely be a short price. However, he’s run poorly the last twice and his only two wins have come on ground with plenty of give so he may be worth opposing. SUN MAIDEN is also entered in the St Leger and she still showed signs of inexperience when third in the Ribblesdale at Ascot – Sir Michael Stoute’s filly has the greater scope for improvement. The gelding Cross Counter has won three of his five starts and is a smart handicapper but Bombyx has plenty to find at the weights.
3.40 Unibet Stewards' Cup
Paul D'Arcy -Spring Loaded: "I think he's going there with a good chance. He has a good draw, he's 1lb well-in and he's got a top jockey on him. Ryan has ridden him before, but he was last of four on his debut. I think he's improved a bit since then! I think the key to him is the ground. He wants quick ground. When he won the Portland it was the soft side of good but that suited him that day over five and a half furlongs - it made it a bit more testing for him - but obviously he was well handicapped that day. He's six now, I think he's only just coming to himself."
Andrew Balding - Foxtrot Lady: "She has a taking profile for this race. Magical Memory and Dancing Star followed the same route in recent years and she was impressive at Newmarket. The first two drew well clear of the field in what was a competitive handicap and she seems to be thriving at the moment. Goodwood would be a question mark although she ran there as a two-year-old, but it was a long time ago. She was having her first start there this time last year, but she’s come a long way since then, so I don’t think the track will be a problem to her and if she gets into the race she should have a great chance."
Richard Fahey saddles Growl, George Bowen and Marie Of Lyon: "Rain would help Growl. I thought he was a bit unlucky at York the other day, as he was away from all the pace. He is in great order, but rain would help him. George Bowen needs a lifetime best to win, but he is in great form. He trotted up the other day, so we are happy with him. He will have to be a Group horse to win with that rating. He is most definitely a character, it just depends which George Bowen turns up. On his day, he is pretty smart, as you have seen. I've had this race in mind since the start of the season for Marie Of Lyon, but a bit of rain would help her to be at her best."
Hugo Palmer - Gifted Master: "I was advised by people's opinion I respect I want to be as high as possible, and stall 25 was as high we could get at that point. Often in these races you want to be where the pace is and Gifted Master is probably the pace, or is certainly one of the best pace angles. I'm confident the horse is in great shape. I know he handles Goodwood, as he has been third in a Lennox. He always gives a good run for his money and wears his heart on his sleeve."
Peter Hedger - Silent Echo: "I would like to have been a bit closer to Gifted Master as he will provide the pace angle and is bound to blaze. He is 2lb better off in this race than he was in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, where he finished fifth. We've always kept him at six and seven furlongs, but six furlongs seems to be his best trip. I would be disappointed if he is not in the first five."
Clive Cox - Tis Marvellous: “I was very happy with the run in the Wokingham. He’s come out of the race really well,” Cox told Unibet. “He was a very good two-year-old and a Group 2 winner, winning the Prix Robert Papin in France and he ran a super race last year in the Commonwealth Cup. We gelded him at the end of last year and we’re pleased with his progress. He wouldn't be a horse that would want too much soft ground. Hopefully things will be in his comfort zone on Saturday and I think he’s in great nick. We did take him out to Dubai in the winter and that might have come a bit quick after gelding him, but he certainly thrived on that last run at Ascot.”
Man On The Spot verdict:
SPRING LOADED is one of several running under a penalty in this but the booking of Ryan Moore suggests there is maximum confidence behind Paul D’Arcy’s grey as he did well to beat Poyle Vinnie and a big field over 5f at Ascot considering his best form is over this extra furlong. Tis Marvellous ran a cracking race to finish fourth in the Wokingham, one place ahead Silent Echo and two ahead of the staying-on George Bowen. Foxtrot Lady is proving a tough filly having won three times this year. She holds her own in these big fields and Marie Of Lyon could be interesting reverting to handicap company. Lancelot Du Lac won this last year but stablemate Eirene may be a better bet this time. Watchable is likely to struggle upped in grade under a penalty and a similar comment applies to Quench Dolly.
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