The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Torcedor will not play second fiddle to rival
Harrington’s stayer backed to foil Stradivarius on first day of Glorious Goodwood
TORCEDOR has to be the value call in the Qatar Goodwood Cup.
The race will, of course, pivot around the fortunes of Stradivarius, last year’s progressive winner who added the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot to what has become a star-spangled CV.
Stradivarius will be awfully difficult to pass, but he did have a tough race at Ascot and returned from the fray a lame horse.
Moreover, he was also in receipt of 1lb from the main protagonists in the Gold Cup.
And in a race that could go down to the smallest of margins, Torcedor is quietly fancied to stop the bonushunting Stradivarius in his tracks.
Jessica Harrington’s stayer looked a much-improved operator in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in May, when he ably drew five lengths clear of a decent field.
That form was good, but few expected him to seriously trouble Stradivarius, Vazirabad and Order Of St George in the Gold Cup.
But the gelded son of Fastnet Rock made a mockery of his 14-1 starting price as he rallied gamely to finish third.
Torcedor had old foe Order Of St George well cooked, while he was only a head behind Vazirabad and a length in arrears of Stradivarius.
Harrington is unfazed by running him at the capricious Goodwood circuit, while there is sufficient evidence to indicate that he, too, has the pace to win a top-level race over two miles.
The case for the defence is also emboldened by the fact he was half a length in front of Stradivarius in a softground Long Distance Cup at Ascot last autumn.
DARK VISION can make a seamless transition into Group Two company by winning the Qatar Vintage Stakes.
Mark Johnston’s colt is unbeaten in two starts and looked the real deal at York when he won a strong novice auction stakes by two and a quarter lengths.
Indeed, the form from that race was pleasingly franked back on the Knavesmire on Saturday as the third horse home, He’Zanarab, won a similar contest with a touch of class.
SUEDOIS is a most underrated thoroughbred from David O’Meara’s yard and gets the nod in the Qatar
Lennox Stakes.
SELECTIONS: GOODWOOD: 1.50 Rainbow Rebel, 2.25 Dark Vision, 3.00 Suedois, 3.35 TORCEDOR (NAP), 4.10 Al Mureib, 4.45 Boom The Groom, 5.15 Rebel Assault.
PERTH: 5.45 Youghal By The Sea, 6.15 One For Billy, 6.50 Anytime Now, 7.25 Flaxen Flare, 8.00 Strong Team, 8.30 Rhythm Of Sound, 9.00 Loud And Clear.
DOUBLE: Torcedor and Boom The Groom.