WE had stunning weather yesterday at Goodwood Racecourse on the final preparation day ahead of five fantastic days of racing at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, including Saturday’s highlight the Unibet Stewards’ Cup.
Today could be a record breaking day with Stradivarius looking to win his third consecutive Qatar Goodwood Cup in a very strong renewal, His pilot, Frankie Dettori, has a strong chance of having a very good day with five rides on the card, including three of my selections with Stradivarius, Hey Gaman and Savannah.
Outside of the Goodwood Gold Cup, the Lennox Stakes looks to be a cracker, whilst the opener is a highly competitive Unibet Handicap.
If you are racing, have a fantastic day and see you there!
1.50 Goodwood Unibet Handicap 1m 1f
Johnny Drama is having his first start for the Andrew Balding yard (formerly with Ger Lyons) and was below par in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Ascot last time (possibly sulked, unable to dominate) but his previous two wins in Ireland, when making all both times, read well. Johnny Drama is versatile ground wise, has drawn stall one and Silvestre De Sousa is a hard man to pass.
Unibet 9/1 each way
Jazeel had too much to do at York last time out in a hot contest so look instead at his penultimate start at Sandown, when beating another of today’s rivals Beringer in good style. This followed two seconds in good company and he has strong each way claims at minimum in this very competitive contest.
Unibet 11/1 each way
2.25 Goodwood Qatar Vintage Stakes (Group 2) 7f
Mystery Power, trained by Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon, ought not be the price he is, as he was a ready winner of the Superlative at Newmarket last time, and that’s just about the best piece of form on show. He has already shown himself versatile ground-wise and if handling this different track, has a very solid chance and his trainer has reported that: “Mystery Power did a really nice piece of work on Saturday”.
Unibet 7/1 each way
3.00 Goodwood Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2) 7f
This is a fascinating contest with Hey Gaman (nap), who looks the likely leader in a race lacking much pace and is taken to hold on and come out on top. Seven furlongs is definitely his trip and he put in a great effort at the Curragh in a Group Two (lost shoe), when finishing second. Trainer James Tate is on form as is the jockey Frankie Dettori, who looks sure to get the fractions right.
Unibet 11/4 win
3.35 Goodwood Qatar Goodwood Cup (Group 1) 2m
The mighty Stradivarius can become the first horse to win three consecutive Goodwood Cups, holding off a very strong challenge from Cross Counter and De Ex Bee.
Stradivarius beat De Ex Bee in the Ascot Gold Cup, looking more comfortable than the winning distance and whilst Cross Counter broke the course record in the 2018 Gordon Stakes, John Gosden’s staying star will deliver his winning combination of class and determination.
Unibet 8/11 win
5.15 Goodwood Unibet Fillies’ Handicap 1m
Savannah has a course record of 22 and the ground versatile performer can go one better today for Roger Charlton and Frankie Dettori. Savannah’s shrewd trainer has probably lined him up for a crack at this Unibet Fillies’ Handicap after a decent effort (not given a hard time when unplaced behind Sun Maiden) at Nottingham in a Listed contest on his latest start and a drop back to a mile is a bonus.
Unibet 11/2 each way
