15:30 Goodwood

Friday 24 May 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 2m 24.11s

(3)

Alfaatik²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden

7/1

850,000 gns son of Sea The Stars, half-brother multiple Group winners. Ran green but made a winning start at Chelmsford in December (1m2f. Again green in Group 3 at Sandown on reappearance (wore blinkers) but stayed on at the end. Promising.

Form: 1-5

(5)

Duckett's Grove²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: E Walker| OR: 92

9/1

By US sire Point of Entry, is a half-brother to a 1m turf winner. Maiden winner in Ireland last year before joining this yard, now 2-3 overall having reappeared with determined AW novice score at Chelmsford (1m2f; 8-1). More on his plate now.

Form: 16-1

(1)

Fifth Position²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

7/1

Dark Angel gelding cost 68,000 gns as a yearling, related to top-class Flintshire. Keen on debut at Newbury but since showed pleasing attitude to turn over well thought of Space Blues (won since) in Nottingham novice (made running). Should improve.

Form: 41

(6)

Kaloor^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B J Meehan| OR: 96

14/1

Scored with a fair bit in hand on sole juvenile start at Salisbury (1m, good; 16-1) and ran well in soft-ground Newbury Conditions race on reappearance. Never a threat in Group 3 Chester Vase since, sights are lowered now.

Form: 1-37

(2)

Persian Moon²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

4/1

Won three of his seven starts as a juvenile and not disgraced when third of six in a Sandown Group 3 on his return to action (ahead of Alfaatik). Didn't improve when third in Listed Newmarket race since, must do so here to hold claims.

Form: 1341-33

(7)

Private Secretary²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92

11/10

Son of trainer's outstanding miler Kingman is half-brother to multiple winners including St Leger third Michelangelo. Back-to-back handicap wins at Redcar and Sandown in April, with any amount in hand last time. Royal Ascot-bound next.

Form: 22-11

(4)

Spanish Mission⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95

20/1

Winner of one of his three starts on the AW, but was well held at Kempton in March in 1m Conditions event and that form seemingly leaves him with an uphill task on his hands here.

Form: 31-5

Forecasts

Private Secretary (11/10), Persian Moon (4/1), Fifth Position (7/1), Alfaatik (7/1), Duckett's Grove (9/1), Kaloor (14/1), Spanish Mission (20/1)

Private Secretary has plenty going for him and is a rapid improver this season, with his tuned-in trainer already looking towards Royal Ascot next month. He is well worthy of stepping into this grade and looks sure go well, but is forecast to be short in the betting. FIFTH POSITION is also upwardly mobile, having beaten off the well-regarded Space Blues at Nottingham last time (franked form since). Roger Varian's charge might well take another scalp here. Alfaatik has been quite green to date but his Classic Trial run had plenty promise near the end and he's respected alongside another improver in Duckett's Grove.