Glorious Goodwood Day 2

Frankel; the world's greatest ever racehorse triumphed in the Sussex Stakes on day 2 in 2012

On day 1 the blog didn't do too well, lets be honest. We had quite a range; fortunately we did have a winner with Dutch Connection coming in, we had a non-runner (the well fancied Harry Angel), a shocking ride on Snoano, Hakeem who ran as his price of 40/1 suggested and then a disappointment in Fun Mac. I was not at all pleased with the ride given to Snoano, held up despite coming down in trip and then making his move when any possible chance of winning had long gone. But onwards and hopefully upwards, day 2 and the big race of the meeting await.


We open day 2 with a long race. Really long. 2 miles 5 furlongs! This unique test is one the National Hunt trainers like to target, for example Nigel TD won it last year, and I fancy the yard of Alan King to supply the winner this year in Oceane. This horse got back to winning ways at Ascot last time out, loves a good, firm surface and considering Alan King would surely have other darts to fire at these longer races it seems significant he sends Oceane here. I'm hoping that Alan thinks the step up in trip will bring about more improvement, and encouragingly the jockey rides at a 20% strike race at Goodwood.

Next up is the the Gordon Stakes, the 2.35 on the card, and Derby disappointment Uylsses is my fancy. Sir Michael Stoute had a few winners the weekend just gone and is going along nicely, and after a rapid step up in grade from winning a maiden to competing in the Derby he has given Uylsses a bit of a break since. The masterful trainer usually brings his horses along steadily, and it was significant that Uylsses was deemed worthy of a Derby spot but that just shows the regard in which he holds the horse. Now he has had a bit of time off, a bit of time to mature and the experience of the Derby under his belt I think we could see the horse Sir Michael sees at home here.

The big race of the day is the Sussex Stakes, a rematch of the St James Stakes at Ascot which Galileo Gold won and The Gurka was deemed an unlucky loser, and that race has had a huge bearing on the market for this one. Galileo Gold is around 2/1, The Gurkha slight fav at 15/8, with Irish Guineas winner Awtaad right out at 6/1. And it's Hugo Palmers Galileo Gold that I fancy for this one. The horse has previously won around Goodwood and also has winning form over 7 furlongs, so is definitely blessed with a bit of pace which will be ideal at this course over a mile. Hugo himself is in fine form at the moment and Galileo Gold, on good, fast racing ground, is taken to confirm Ascot form at the prices.

In the Molecomb stakes I'm so unbelievably keen on Global Applause. I was interested to read Ryan Moore say in his Betfair column that the draw is important but so is running style. Low draw for the speedy types, higher draw is ok for the hold up horses. And make no mistake, Global Applause is speedy, hence his draw in stall 1 is absolutely brilliant. Drawn on the wrong side at Ascot and didn't seem in love with the track the last day, prior to that he was unbeaten over 5 furlongs (his only loss came when stepped up to 6). Global Applause is all speed, should love this fast 5 and rates as my bet of the day.

And that'll do me until the last race on the card, a 7 furlong handicap, where I'm going for the three year old Twin Sails for Dean Ivory. He was a useful enough juvenile but I had been concerned that he hadn't trained on after disappointing in every run this season. However, last time out in first time blinkers he ran his best race of the season to finish a really narrow 2nd, proving that some ability still remains. If Twin Sails can kick on from that run now, with a lovely draw in stall 3, he could be on a nice mark and is worth a go in the finale of day 2.