MOUNT TO SCALE THE HEIGHTS
THE best ride I have at Goodwood is undoubtedly MOUNT MORIAH (3.00) but the Qatar Gordon Stakes looks a white-hot race.
The three-year-olds look good this year – you’ve only got to look at what Enable, Stradivarius and Winter have done to elder rivals in the past seven days.
Mount Moriah put his rivals to the sword last time at Ascot when he shrugged off a 12lb ratings rise to win really well.
He is dropping back from 1m 6f to 1m 3f, which I don’t see being a problem. He won over 11 furlongs on soft ground at Newbury in May, so the going will suit too.
Crystal Ocean and Khalidi head the betting, having chased home Permian in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Permian has obviously run well again when edged out of the Grand Prix de Paris, so that has got to be strong form.
My best memory of the Qatar Stewards’ Cup was riding Dinkum Diamond into fourth two years ago when we finished on the heels of Magical Memory and Toofi.
I ride SOLAR FLAIR (3.35) and I’m drawn on the far side of the track. We come out of stall six and big sprint handicaps are all about where the best horses are drawn and which of those operate on soft ground. I’ll keep an open mind and just try to keep Solar Flair where he is happy.
I’m drawn well on Hugo Palmer’s AVENTINUS (4.45) in the Qatar Handicap. We’re in stall five in the seven-furlong contest. He won well last time over course and distance but this is a better race with Battered and Medahim setting the standard
CARNTOP (2.25) is owned by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and it will be the second time I have ridden for them this season, having partnered Pacify who is their other horse in training with Ralph Beckett. I’m not sure whether they will be there or not to watch Carntop in the Qatar Summer Handicap.
He ran well into third behind Soldier In Action and Eddystone Rock at Epsom in June over 12 furlongs and has a 7lb turnaround with the winner. But this looks to be a really competitive race.
Harry is sponsored by Racing UK, which has recently unveiled its new-look website. Features include seamless betting through the site, Oddschecker integration, Timeform premium ratings, dedicated racecourse feeds, pop-out video players and seven-day catch-up service. See www.racinguk.com for more.