Elevated in status in 2017, the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup was blessed by the emergence of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as he toppled previous dual winner Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) from his perch. Tuesday's edition sees him return in a different light as the G1 Ascot Gold Cup titleholder and staying division's new squire, having upstaged France's premier marathoner Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}), the re-opposing Torcedor (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in one of the finest renewals of the Royal meeting's feature on June 21. Also successful in the 14-furlong G2 Yorkshire Cup on May 18, Bjorn Nielsen's diminutive but high-class homebred seems to have an unyielding momentum behind him with the hot and dry weather even coming for him once again. There is also the small matter of the WH Stayers' Million, which would look well and truly on if he comes through this with his usual flying colours en route to the series finale in the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York's Ebor meeting.
“He has done nothing but please us since he won the Gold Cup,” trainer John Gosden said. “Going into these Cup races takes a lot out of horses, but he has had a nice gap between Ascot and Goodwood and I think that will help him in every way.”
Andrea Atzeni, who was on board 12 months ago, is back on board with misfortune having fallen Frankie Dettori's way and he added, “He was young, still quite narrow and a little bit weak this time last year. When I saw him in the paddock at York in May I hardly recognised him. He was a lot stronger and was much more the finished article–a completely different horse. He was very good that day and then very brave when winning the Gold Cup at Ascot. He's the best stayer around and I'm delighted to be back on him.”
Whereas Stradivarius is in the mould of the likes of Le Moss (Ire), Ardross (Ire), Kayf Tara (GB) and Yeats (Ire) in that he could also easily belong in top middle-distance company if connections decided, Torcedor is the more doughty stayer. Successful by five lengths when it rode soft in the two-mile G3 Sagaro S. at Ascot on May 2, he refused to buckle at any stage in the Gold Cup but the summer ground will play against him again.
“He came out of Ascot well and his last piece of work before going over was very good,” jockey Colm O'Donoghue said. “I think the track will suit, he and Stradivarius are racing off level weights and there was only a length between them at Royal Ascot. I think it will be a good fight between the two of them again.”
Torcedor's compatriot Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tries this kind of trip for the first time, but having given mixed signals this term it is difficult to know what to expect from last year's G2 Hardwicke S. especially from a Ballydoyle stable under the cloud of a virus. He checked out worryingly quickly when last of five in the latest renewal of the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot on June 23.
The Queen's June 8 GII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. winner Call To Mind (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was previously third behind Stradivarius and Desert Skyline (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the Yorkshire Cup and it is hard to know what his successful overseas foray will have done for his ego. John Warren, The Queen's racing manager, commented, “Call To Mind has come out of the Belmont race very well and goes to Goodwood in great form. We have no particular ground fears and he won on firm ground at Belmont last time. We are hopeful of a good run as he is now really coming of age. He has matured into a fine horse.”
Vintage Company…
Away from the excitement of the day's centrepiece, the G2 Qatar Vintage S. offers an important pointer to the following year's Classics. The Qatar Goodwood Festival or “Glorious Goodwood” as it has long been known acts as an exhibition of 2-year-old talent and the Vintage stands at the core with future Group 1 winners Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), Toormore (Ire) (Arakan), Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) taking it between 2012 and 2015 and last year's winner Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) potentially another one on Wednesday.
The least experienced of the line-up is Manton Estate Racing's Confiding (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), but he could start favourite with his June 14 Newbury debut win working out well and the Martyn Meade stable knowing the time of day with his star juvenile Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Comparisons are inevitable and their trainer is not brushing them away. “I would say they're a bit on a par after their first runs,” he explained. “They both won impressively at Newbury first time out. This horse will probably be ready to step up to a mile before too long, but we'll see how he goes over seven furlongs on Tuesday. This is obviously a step up in class for him, but we've been very happy with him since Newbury and I don't see any reason why he won't go there and give a good account of himself.”
Another unexposed colt asked big things is Fiona Carmichael's exciting Blonde Warrior (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) from Galileo Gold's Hugo Palmer yard. He may have had a straightforward task when defying a penalty in a Doncaster novice event over this trip June 29, but the visual style of that performance marked him as one to watch closely. “His last two races have been processions really and he hasn't had to do much more than that,” his trainer stated. “Ever since I first saw Blonde Warrior, he has reminded me of Galileo Gold. There is obviously more to it than looks, but I think he is an exciting horse for the future as he is still quite immature.”
Mark Johnston has won this three times, with the subsequent G1 2000 Guineas hero Mister Baileys (GB) (Robellino) his first and future heavyweight Godolphin representative Shamardal his last. The unbeaten Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead) was another to make light work of a penalty in his latest test over six furlongs at York July 14 and he looked a surefire pattern-race performer on that occasion.
Tip Tackles Elders…
Anne Cowley's May 5 G1 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) takes on his elders in the G2 Qatar Lennox S., which include the last two winners in Breton Rock (Ire) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Fourth in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 19, the Roger Teal-trained 3-year-old is possibly at his ideal distance of seven furlongs and his handler said, “He's going into the race in great form and we're looking forward to it. They've had a bit of rain, which will take the sting out of the ground. Hopefully it will dry out a bit but hopefully it should be perfect. It's not going to be easy for him being the only baby in the race. That's probably the main reason we decided to run him over seven furlongs rather than taking on older horses over a mile.”
Ed Arkell, Clerk of the Course, is delighted with the condition of the track after the weekend downpour. “The rain over the weekend has been extremely welcome,” he explained. “We had 18.3 millimetres yesterday and a further 1.1 millimetres overnight. It is the easy side of good ground, but still good ground. There are just some good-to-firm patches out on the round course. It is dry at the moment and there is the chance of some sunny spells later today. There is the chance of another shower this evening, and then conditions should be dry, sunny and increasingly warm as the week progresses.”
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