Winter’s coming... and fast!
It WAS more a case of the Sussex drowns than Downs as more than 40 millimetres of rain fell during yesterday afternoon’s action to leave conditions more akin to a Chepstow jumps card in December.
One man who made a smart decision was Aidan O’Brien, who withdrew leading Qatar Sussex Stakes fancy Churchill from the feature race and there is a chance the master of Ballydoyle could repeat the trick for today’s Qatar Nassau Stakes.
Racegoers will be hoping leading form choice WINTER (Goodwood, 3.35) doesn’t become the latest high-profile absentee this week but, as rider Ryan Moore explained in his Betfair column yesterday, the prevailing conditions may hamper his rivals’ chances more than his own.
Nezwaah, Shutter Speed and Wuheida are already casualties of the weather and their early withdrawal could encourage O’Brien to allow Winter to try her hand at 10 furlongs for the first time in spite of the deep ground.
the dual Guineas winner posted her best performance on my speed figures in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and that form took a handsome boost in France at the weekend when runner-up and stablemate Roly Poly lifted a French Group One.
As a daughter of Galileo, with Sadler’s Wells and Urban Sea, on the male side of her pedigree there is every chance Winter will see out the extra two furlongs, especially as she is learning to settle a little better with each race.
Queen’s trust appears the main rival to the selection given she didn’t receive the best of rides when fourth to Highland Reel in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last time.
However, she seems rather one-dimensional tactically with a pronounced preference for a strongly run race where she can appear late and that scenario may not prevail here in this small field.
Given some of the starting prices of the winners seen at Goodwood this week, I’m happy to risk a few shillings on
SOCIETY RED (Goodwood, nap, 1.50) to spring a mini surprise in the opener.
trainer Richard Fahey may not have enjoyed Ribchester’s unusual performance in the Sussex, but a positive run from his Arcano colt in the curtainraiser could provide some cheer and there are reasons for believing he is over-priced this morning.
the selection’s latest run at Ascot can be forgiven as he was trapped wide on his first start at 12 furlongs, but he had previously chased home Defoe at York and that horse is being touted as a live St Leger candidate next month.
Society Red coped with easy ground well at Haydock in June and could make a bold bid with crack lightweight rider Paddy Mathers on board this afternoon.