A plethora of Group races, including three Group 1s, await fans who will descend on Goodwood Racecourse in England for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, July 27-31.
Tuesday’s opening feature is the two-mile Goodwood Cup and the ageless seven-year-old stallion STRADIVARIUS is the star runner.
Five-time Champion Trainer John Gosden described Stradivarius to be “very much part of the family” as he prepares to try and win an historic fifth Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Tuesday.
The horse will not get a rematch with Subjectivist, his conqueror in last month’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, as that rival has been retired due to injury.
He said, “He didn’t have much of a race at Ascot so that race didn’t seem to knock him back too far physically. He’s won four Goodwood Cups in a row which takes some doing. It’s going to be a fascinating race with some very nice horses turning up and you’re always going to need some luck in running around Goodwood given it’s not exactly a big, open galloping track. It’s quintessentially different, rolling in and out, left, right and has cambers. It should make for an exciting day on Tuesday.”
Having arrived at Clarehaven Stables in 2016, Stradivarius has been a key part of the Gosden team for six years and his trainer paid tribute to his longevity and toughness.
Gosden said: “He’s been a pleasure and a lot of fun to train through the years but as a 7-year-old full horse, he probably knows a great deal more about the game than I do! He’s very much part of the family here – we had Enable with us until she was a 6-year-old and him until he is seven. It doesn’t normally happen with full horses like him. Everyone enjoys his company, and he checks everything in and out from his box and he knows Clarehaven inside and out. He enjoys going out on the Heath and shouting at the other strings!”
Wednesday is the prestigious SUSSEX STAKES (G1) at one mile. POETIC FLARE, trained by Jim Bolger, is a heavy favourite off his wins in the 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
On Thursday, the Group 1 Nassau Stakes on ‘Ladies’ Day’ is a 1 1/4 mile event for fillies and mares and the leading contenders are Mother Earth and Lady Bowthorpe.
Races will be offered for watching and wagering in Canada on HPIBet.com.
*At ASCOT on July 24, Cazoo (Epsom) Derby (G1) winner ADAYAR doubled up with an impressive victory in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). The three-year-old son of Frankel defeated Saudi Cup (G1) winner Mishriff and top filly Love.
Jockey William Buick commented immediately after the race, “I’m speechless to be honest. He gives you the feel of endless power and it’s a privilege to ride a horse like this because they don’t come around very often.
“(Trainer) Charlie (Appleby) wasn’t worried about the ground and good horses can adapt and that’s exactly what this horse did. It was a very simple race to ride once he dropped his head. When I picked him up he was instant and relentless until the line.”
Adayar will now be pointed to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
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