 |
 |
|
|
|
racing news |
Tropical Paradise Looking to Rule Supreme Once More at Goodwood 25/08/10
After posting a first Group success at Glorious Goodwood, talented filly Tropical Paradise is set to return to the Sussex course for the £57,000 Supreme Stakes (3.55pm) over seven furlongs on Sunday, August 29.
The Peter Winkworth-trained four-year-old put up a career best effort when beating Golden Stream by three-quarters of a length in the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes, also over seven furlongs, on July 30.
Anton Pearson, assistant to Peter Winkworth, revealed today: “Tropical Paradise came out of her victory at Glorious Goodwood very well and there is a 99 per cent chance of her going back to the course for the Supreme Stakes.
“She will be coming up against colts, which will make her task a little bit tougher, but she has won twice at Goodwood and the softer the ground, the better for her. We are hopeful that she can run another good race.
“We were amazed that she was such a big price in the Oak Tree Stakes because, if you handle the track at Goodwood, you are halfway there. She won on good to firm on that occasion but she is better on a softer surface and we are hoping that some rain ahead of Sunday might inconvenience one or two of the other runners.
“I hope that Ian Mongan can keep the ride on her because he has won on the filly twice and I agree with Henry Cecil that he is an outstanding jockey.
“After winning a Group race, she has done everything that she should have done on the racecourse now but her value is somewhat limited as a broodmare because she’s not very well bred. Winning a Group Three against the colts would boost her value and the owners are keen to continue with her next season.”
 |
A total of 22 entries for the Supreme Stakes also features last year’s Group Two Betfair Cup winner Finjaan, multiple Group Two scorer Arabian Gleam, totesport Mile second Invisible Man last season’s Group One July Cup runner-up Main Aim and Rainfall, who took third in the Group One Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July.
The Supreme Stakes is the highlight of a seven-race card on Sunday, August 29, and Goodwood also hosts a septet of races on Saturday, August 28, the feature of which is the £100,000 Group Two totesport.com Celebration Mile (3.05pm). The nine five-day confirmations include Group Two Summer Mile hero Premio Loco, Group One Dewhurst Stakes victor Beethoven, as well as Main Aim, Finjaan and Rainfall.
Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata won the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a juvenile and showed his wellbeing on August 20, when winning the Group Three Strensall Stakes at York. His trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, has also engaged Poet’s Voice, while the field is completed by Vitznau and Summer Fete.
Saturday also features the £40,000 Group Three Chichester Observer Prestige Stakes (3.40pm), as well as the £40,000 Listed Windflower March Stakes (2.30pm).
Goodwood also stages an evening fixture on Thursday, August 26, prior to its late August highlight.
GOING NOW GOOD
FRESH GROUND FOR SATURDAY’S totesport.com CELEBRATION MILE
The going at Goodwood is currently Good (good to soft places on the straight course). The overall GoingStick reading is 7.7.
Seamus Buckley, Goodwood’s Clerk of the Course, reported today: “I have just walked the course with Goodwood’s Managing Director, Rod Fabricius, and we both delighted at how the course has dried out following the heavy rain over the weekend. It is looking in great condition with a good covering of grass.
“The current forecast is for conditions to stay dry up until tomorrow evening, when a band of rain is expected to pass over the Goodwood area. If the forecast is correct, the worst of the rain will hopefully fall just to of the west of the racecourse and it should then be dry again from Thursday onwards.
“I would be delighted if we were racing today or tomorrow. With the forecast rain, we should hopefully be racing on ground on the easier side of good at the weekend.
“A fresh strip of ground will be available for Saturday’s totesport.com Celebration Mile, beginning at the six-furlong marker on the mile course.”
