The horse racing broadcaster makes his selections for the second day of the Qatar Racing Festival at Goodwood.
It’s day two of the Qatar Racing Festival, and the race of the week in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. After the 10f Eclipse and 12f King George, this is traditionally the first clash of the generations at a mile, the distance which has looked the strongest for the three-year-old division this season.
After the 2000 Guineas, I was certain that NOTABLE SPEECH
6/4
(15:35 Goodwood) held all the aces in the division, and it is a shame a third meeting with Rosallion has been scuppered by the latter’s absence with a respiratory infection. Notable Speech will appreciate the return to a longer straight where he can be picked up more gradually, and William Buick rides Goodwood exceptionally well (103/555, Actual/Expected Ratio of 1.24). It will be a fascinating game of cat and mouse with Ryan Moore, who rides Henry Longfellow, but hopefully Notable Speech can regain the winning thread as before Royal Ascot he had looked one of the most exciting horses of the season.
The card gets underway with a three-year-old handicap where FRENCH DUKE
9/2
(13:50 Goodwood) can gain a first career success. He was far too keen in the early stages at Royal Ascot, not helped by running downhill, and has the application of the hood to try and help him settle. He just distributed his energy at the wrong time but still finished close enough to suggest that a mark of 88 should be well within his compass.
JABAARA
11/4
(14:25 Goodwood) can continue her progress in the Oak Tree Stakes. She has progressed steadily and achieved the stand-out piece of form last time in splitting Porta Fortuna and Rogue Millennium in the Group 1 Falmouth at Newmarket, and will have no problem with the fast ground which may inconvenience a few others. Last year’s runner-up Breege is respected, but the 3lb penalty she carries for her win at Epsom makes her more of a place chance again.
The Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb has attracted its largest field since 2007, but AESTERIUS
9/4
(15:00 Goodwood) has always looked the ideal type for the race and is also likely to race close to the pace. An expensive Breeze Up purchase by Mehmas, he has looked to know his job but has more substance than most early types and found plenty at the business end at Sandown despite racing freely. That ability to quicken gives him useful tactical speed and gives James Doyle another winner.
