15:15 Goodwood

Wednesday 29 July 2020

All13:1013:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:20

Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:19 | Winning time: 1m 38.75s

(5)

Circus Maximus^b⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| D

6/1

Won the St James's Palace prior to finishing second in this last year and held his form well since, winning two Group 1 races including the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot on return; speed nature of this track doesn't play to his strengths but respected.

Form: 12714-1

(4)

Mohaather¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 120| D

3/1

Met plenty of trouble in running when beaten 5l by Circus Maximus on return but gained compensation when bolting up in the Summer Mile (Group 2). This is tougher but he rates as a nice prospect.

Form: 11/15-71

(3)

San Donato¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 114

28/1

Listed winner as a juvenile; only seen once last year when placed in a French Group 1 and left with plenty to do when runner-up behind Mohaather in the Summer Mile earlier this month; will still need to step up on that to win this.

Form: 8111/3-2

(2)

Kameko²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 119| BF| D

5/1

Impressive Vertem Futurity winner who went on to break the track record in the Guineas on return. A respectable fourth in the Derby last time out when left with too much to do and leading form claims back at this trip.

Form: 1221-14

(1)

Siskin⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 116| D

9/4

Unbeaten in five starts, winning the Phoenix Stakes as a juvenile prior to an Irish Guineas success on return. Showed a devastating turn of foot that day and won going away so has to be respected here.

Form: 1111-1

(6)

Vatican City²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

14/1

Kept on well to finish runner-up to Siskin in the Irish Guineas but down the field when held up in the Derby last time, given plenty to do. Hard to see him reversing form with Siskin.

Form: 51-28

(7)

Wichita³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118

13/2

Impressive Group 3 winner at Newmarket last year and only narrowly denied in the Guineas behind Kameko; not disgraced at Royal Ascot when third in a tactical affair but needs more to be involved for win purposes and Moore prefers Circus Maximus.

Form: 1213-23

Forecasts

Siskin (9/4), Mohaather (3/1), Kameko (5/1), Circus Maximus (6/1), Wichita (13/2), Vatican City (14/1), San Donato (28/1)

A case can be made for most of these in what looks like an open renewal but KAMEKO is the selection. He was impressive when breaking the track record in the Guineas on return and a quick mile on drying ground are probably his optimum conditions. Siskin is an obvious danger following a facile success in the Irish Guineas last time, though this is definitely tougher. If either of those meet trouble in running, as can be the case at this venue, Circus Maximus is the one who could take advantage given that he's likely to be ridden at prominently.