15:00 Goodwood

Thursday 29 July 2021

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 2m 40.21s

(8)

Yibir²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 109

10/3

Progressive sort who boasts some strong form this season, comfortably winning Group 3 at Newmarket 3 weeks ago. Needs considering despite shouldering a 3 lb penalty.

Form: 11-3421

(3)

Youth Spirit⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: A M Balding| OR: 111| D

12/1

Took another big step forward when winning the Chester Vase in good style in the mud but limitations rather exposed in Derby since. No easy task under a penalty.

Form: 413-418

(6)

Aleas¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 103

33/1

Building up an excellent strike rate and is proven in the mud. However, was seen to maximum effect when winning listed event at Hamilton 2 weeks ago so more needed at this level.

Form: 211-141

(2)

Belloccio⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D Menuisier| OR: 100

20/1

Belardo colt who won both starts at 2 yrs, including 1m listed race at Toulouse. Useful form in defeat this season but at the same time showing this sort of level is probably above him.

Form: 11-586

(7)

Ottoman Emperor¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 104

11/1

Promising sort who showed a willing attitude when completing hat-trick at Navan 19 days ago. This is by far his stiffest test but probably has more to offer stepping up in trip.

Form: 6111

(5)

Sir Lucan⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

9/1

Won 1m novice at Cork at 2 yrs. Offered little in Classic Trial at Sandown on return but left that well behind when beating Wordsworth by neck in listed race at Navan in May. Remains unexposed.

Form: 541-81

(1)

Third Realm⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 108| D

5/2

Took another huge step forward when winning Lingfield Derby Trial by 1¼ lengths from subsequent Derby/King George hero Adayar. Not disgraced at Epsom himself and leading contender back down in class.

Form: 5-115

(4)

Wordsworth^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

11/4

Improving colt who has been placed in Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, Irish Derby at the Curragh and Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last 3 starts. Firmly in the mix back down in grade.

Form: 2-12232

Forecasts

Third Realm (5/2), Wordsworth (11/4), Yibir (10/3), Sir Lucan (9/1), Ottoman Emperor (11/1), Youth Spirit (12/1), Belloccio (20/1), Aleas (33/1)

THIRD REALM seemed to beat the Derby/King George winner Adayar fair and square in the Lingfield Derby Trial in May, and while Adayar has established himself as the leading 3-y-o since, Third Realm is probably better than his Derby performance suggests, so he shades the vote over Wordsworth, who has been placed in Group 1s the last twice. Yibir is another to consider in a strong Group 3.