Inside track on running plans for the Qatar Goodwood Festival
Get the inside track on the Qatar Goodwood Festival teams of Jessica Harrington, Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden and William Haggas.
JESSICA HARRINGTON: "Torcedor (9/2 Sky Bet) would be my first runner at Goodwood. At the moment, we are all systems go to run in the Qatar Goodwood Cup. He has come out of his run in the Ascot Gold Cup (third to Stradivarius) in good form - this looks the logical next step for him.
"Dubai didn't go right for him at the start of the year as he travelled badly out there and lost a lot of weight. Luckily Colm [O'Donoghue, jockey] looked after him when things weren't going right in his race and that was really the reason we could bring him back and run in the Sagaro at Ascot which he won.
"He then ran a great race to finish third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but I think he can be just as effective away from Ascot. He has won for me around Navan and Leopardstown, and at various different courses so I think he is fairly adaptable now.
"There is always a chance we could beat Stradivarius. The drop back to two miles will suit Torcedor as he does have plenty of pace. He stays further than that, but I do feel two miles will suit him. If he could run second to Stradivarius, I would be delighted.
"You always hope you are getting a bit more quality in the yard when you have more horses. I think I have some nice horses and some of them are fulfilling their potential this year.
"Colm (O'Donoghue - Torcedor's regular rider) is very important and I am also very lucky to have Warren O'Connor who rides work for me and was a very good jockey. They both tell me a lot about how the horses are. I can look and see the horses, but I really need the feedback from the people on board.
"I have never been to Goodwood - it is on during Galway week where I am busy so that is the reason I have never been. I have to go somewhere new this year and we will see what happens."
AIDAN O'BRIEN: "The Qatar Sussex Stakes is the plan for Gustav Klimt (5/1 Sky Bet) at the minute. If everything goes well, that is what we are looking at for him. He has had a busy season so far. We were happy with his run last time in France (third in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville) and we think Goodwood might really suit him. He is a fast horse and we think a mile is his maximum.
"There is every chance that he will be suited by an easier mile. Ascot and the Curragh are both tough miles and he travelled very well in those races. We just think a mile on fast ground at Goodwood is probably an easier mile for him. Last time at Deauville they went hard all the way and you need to stay well at that track. We just think that he will be very happy on the track and the bends at Goodwood.
"Things just haven't really worked for him so far this season. He probably needs a bit of cover in his race so that he can quicken. We think and hope that it can happen for him. We could also run one or two of the other entries. Happily has been running over further, but might be happy going back to a mile so we will see about that.
"We were delighted with Clemmie last time at Newmarket (third behind Alpha Centauri in the Falmouth Stakes) last week and thought that she had progressed from the Irish Guineas. We think that she can progress more, so she is also in the mix."
"The plan is for Idaho (10/1 Sky Bet) to go for the Qatar Goodwood Cup. We felt that we would go beyond a mile and six furlongs with Idaho sometime. He won the Ormonde Stakes well at Chester and we have always felt that Goodwood might suit him. He is better going right-handed and feel that the step up in trip will suit and help bring out some improvement. The plan with Order Of St George is to aim him at Ascot in the autumn if the ground comes up easy.
"Rhododendron (11/2 Sky Bet) is a possible for the Qatar Nassau Stakes or she could go to the Sussex Stakes or to France. She is in very good form and we were half-thinking of running her with Clemmie at Newmarket last week. She is ready to go.
"We have a Galileo colt out of Christmas Kid (named Christmas) who won at Roscommon last week and he is a possible for the Qatar Vintage Stakes. With the two-year-olds, we try to decide nearer the time as they are changing so much at this time of year, but hopefully we will be competing in the main races for them at the Qatar Goodwood Festival."
THADY GOSDEN, son of and assistant to John Gosden: "Stradivarius's (4/6 Sky Bet) preparation for the Goodwood Cup has been excellent so far. He pulled off a shoe in the Gold Cup at Ascot so it showed how brave he was to be able to win that day.
"He has come out of the race bouncing and we're looking forward to the Qatar Goodwood Cup. Stradivarius is an absolute pleasure to be around at home. He is push-button and always happy. He never gets malicious and he doesn't cause us any trouble at all. He likes to have a jump around and tell everybody that he is good. He is not a big horse, but has a very big heart and is a top-class horse.
"I'm not in a position to discuss riding plans as it will be up to the owners as to who rides our horses if Frankie (Dettori who is appealing against a 10-day ban which would rule him out of the entire Qatar Goodwood Festival) is not available. Frankie has ridden Without Parole in all of his races and he gets on well with Stradivarius. You wouldn't really have anyone else on either horse if you could at the moment.
"Things didn't really go to plan for Without Parole (6/4 Sky Bet) in the St James's Palace Stakes. They went very fast and Frankie had to go to the front a long way from home. He's inexperienced horse and in front of a big crowd like that, it was a very different atmosphere for him and I think he learned a lot from that run as he wondered where the rest of the field were. Physically, he has done well too. He still carries a lot of condition and you would still be hard-pressed to find a rib on him at this stage. There are pretty tough horses to beat in the Sussex Stakes and I think it could be a very competitive race as it may be a big field, so the draw will be important.
"I like Highgarden in the Lillie Langtry over a mile and six furlongs. She is a nice, big classy filly and she will be suited by the step up in trip, so I am looking forward to watching her run at Goodwood."
WILLIAM HAGGAS: "Sea Of Class has been left in the Irish Oaks this morning and we are planning to run Urban Fox (7/2 Sky Bet) in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. Urban Fox has done very well since she joined us. She possibly lost her way a bit last year and is a very big filly. She ran very well at Ascot in a handicap, then I really fancied her for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes but unfortunately just when Aljazzi quickened, she only lengthened before staying on well. I thought she wanted further and so it proved when she won the Pretty Polly.
"We thought Urban Fox wanted fast ground and she seems to like it. I don't know what she would be like on soft. Usually, when horses get that good they usually don't like both types of ground. It is going to rain sometime - I hope it is not at Goodwood on Thursday week.
"Call To Mind is in great form. He has got a bit to find on the book but is doing really well. John Warren (was up at the July Meeting and came to see Call To Mind - he thought what we all think here in that the horse is making good physical progress. He has a bit to find with the best ones but stays well and is a very genuine horse. He should run a good race.
"William Buck who rode him at York said that the horse wants two miles and that is why we went to New York (when successful in the Belmont Gold Cup). We haven't got as far as thinking about a jockey for Goodwood yet.
"We have a few in the handicaps like most people as they are valuable and good races. I don't know if Muthmir will run in the King George Qatar Stakes - he has been a bit unfortunate in his last two runs but is not going to beat Battaash realistically. We would also like to run something in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes - possibly What A Home or Maid To Remember. It looks like Society Power is being sold so he won't be going to Goodwood.
"We should keep ourselves busy enough. We hope to run The Queen's Seniority (14/1 Sky Bet) in the Golden Mile and we might have a couple in the Oak Tree Stakes - Pretty Baby who ran well at York and One Master, who is by Fastnet Rock out of Enticing. Young Rascal will not be ready in time for the Qatar Gordon Stakes and will go to York for the Great Voltigeur."
Related horse racing links
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
