Goodwood: A trio of Godolphin hopefuls, all trained by different handlers in the UK, take on the winners of the English, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas in their bid to secure a fourth £1 million (Dh4.8 million) Group 1 Sussex Stakes trophy for the stable on day two of Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.

The Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester, runner-up to Galileo Gold in the English Classic at Newmarket in May, and a subsequent winner of the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, heads the pecking order and will race in Godolphin’s first colours of jockey James Doyle.

Toormore, who won the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at this meeting last season, will be ridden by Australian call up James McDonald for Richard Hannon, while Richard Pankhurst completes the Godolphin raiding party. Adrea Atzeni takes the ride on the John Gosden-trained former Chesham Stakes scorer.

Godolphin’s previous wins in the Sussex Stakes came with Ramonti (2007), Noverre (2001) and Aljabr (1999).

The three Classic winners are 2000 Guineas hero Galileo Gold (Hugo Palmer/Frankie Dettori), French 2,000 Guineas scorer The Gurkha (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) and Awtaad (Kevin Prendergast/Chris Hayes), winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Awtaad, who bids to secure a first Sussex Stakes win for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, will be hoping to reverse the form on Galileo Gold and The Gurkha, who finished ahead of him in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He previously recorded a decisive two and a half-length victory over Galileo Gold in the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May.

Wednesday’s card also features the £75,000 Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, which features three runners with Dubai connections including fancied contender Yalta who represents Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Kayllang Rock runs in the colours of Shaikh Juma Dalmouk Al Maktoum, while Nayyar carries the hopes of Abdullah Al Khalifa.

Kyllang Rock (James Tate/Andrea Atzeni) was a notable fourth on his debut at Yarmouth behind subsequent Listed Windsor Castle Stakes winner Ardad but won his next start in impressive fasion at Windsor earlier this month.

Newmarket-based Tate told Sportinglife: “Kyllang Rock came from the breeze-up sales at Ascot and has always shown loads of speed.

“He showed us plenty of ability at home but his first race was a bit hard to gauge as he clipped heels and stumbled. We know it was a good race though, as the form has worked out.

“He likes fast, good ground, which hopefully we will get on Wednesday. We will find out how good he is then.”

Wednesday’s line-up also features the Group 3 £100,000 Gordon Stakes, a respected trial for the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster.

Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour is represented by St. Leger hopeful Prize Money.

 

Goodwood, Day 2

Feature races (UAE time)

5.35pm Gordon Stakes (Group 3) (3yo, 2,400m)

6.10pm Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+, 1,600m)

6.45pm Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) (2yo, 1,000m)