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Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog |
| Wednesday 30th July 2014 |
It was carnage at Glorious Goodwood on day one
The setting at Glorious Goodwood would befit the landscape of a Jane Austen novel, yet for punters on day one what happened on-course was reminiscent of tales written either by the Brothers Grimm or Stephen King.
The horror that was Beacon in the Molecomb, Toormore in the Lennox and Havana Cooler in the Summer Stakes being turned over went some way to paying the expenses for the on-course bookmakers.
I have to hold my hands up to being caught out by the haste with which Havana Cooler’s price disappeared.
I can’t say Havana Cooler was backed, though, as there was not the infinite queues at bookmakers’ pitches to warrant such a wholesale contraction of his price!
The biggest queues seemed to be for the free strawberries, giving some cheer to a miserable punting day.
The betting ring was well populated but turnover was light. A couple of £500 each-way bets were reported on Sennockian Star, but where one was a hedge bet, the other is yet to be clarified.
Sun cream was the order of the day and so was liquid refreshment, water, water and more water as there was a danger of dehydration. It is worth bearing in mind over the next couple of days.
The temperature gave cause to dry out any moisture in the ground with Cotai Glory breaking the two-year-old track record in the Bet365 Molecomb Stakes.
Maid In Rio is going to be an extremely warm order to claim her sixth win in seven races in Goodwood’s first race on Wednesday. Her nine-length romp shown live on on Friday at a rain softened Ascot would have helped.
There was nothing to suggest the extra five furlongs to present a problem, yet I have been waiting patiently for Ray Ward’s next outing and as it happens he runs in the opener conceding over a stone to Maid In Rio.
He will stay, indeed after his unlucky run in the Ascot Stakes I thought he would be Cesarewitch bound, so this is a bonus.
Wednesday's action is dominated by the Duel On the Downs, which is a spectacle rather than a punting opportunity. With the two Hannon hot pots turned over on day one I’m surprised Kingman isn’t shorter. That, no doubt, is ground related.
The Gordon Stakes is very hard to call, but for the ground I’d be in camp Cloudscape, but in reality I’ll wait to see if the betting gives any guide.
Highland Reel is one of the leading players already for next year’s 2000 Guineas so it is amazing that his presence in the Vintage Stakes line-up has gone virtually unnoticed. The race will prove a stern enough test as Ahlan Emarati will be suited by the seven furlongs as he runs on with zest at six furlongs.
Tanya Stevenson's Wednesday tip:
1.55 Goodwood: Ray Ward at 7-1 with BetVictor
Tanya Stevenson's Wednesday's pointers:
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS IN THE SUSSEX STAKES since 1994
2012: FRANKEL WON
2011: CANFORD CLIFFS Second
2010: RIP VAN WINKLE Second
2005: SOVIET SONG Second
2002: NOVERRE Second
2000: ALJABR Fifth
Five of the last six odds-on favourites have won - Dawn Approach finished second last year.
Owner Khalid Abdullah has won the race five times, this year he relies on Kingman.
Owner Sue Magnier has won the race five times, this year she relies on Darwin.
Five of the last six favourites have won the Sussex Stakes.
Eight of the last ten winners had finished either first or second in a Group One last time out.
Seven of the last ten winners had run in a Classic in their career.
Nine of the last ten winners had either won or finished second at Royal Ascot that season.
Eighteen of the last 20 had come via Royal Ascot.
Seven of the last ten winners had won a Group One in their career.
The last ten winners finished no worse than second last time out.
In the last 20 years of 11 three-year-old winners, eight had run in the 2000 Guineas, only three had won the Classic.
Neptune Investment Management Gordon Stakes:
Sir Michael Stoute has won the race seven times
Five of the last eight winners have been either favourite or joint-favourite
All of the last ten winners came from the first three in the betting
Eight of the last ten winners were 4-1 or shorter
Eight of the last ten winners had run at Royal Ascot (five of them in the King Edward VII Stakes)
The last Gordon Stakes winner to run in the St Leger was Conduit, who won in 2008. Prior to that it was Sixties Icon, who went on to win the St Leger at York 2006
Of the last nine Gordon Stakes winners to run in the St Leger four have won.
Richard Hughes is attempting his fifth straight victory with Ivawood.
Six of the last ten favourites have won (25 of 39 favourites have won in total).
The last ten winners were 6-1 or shorter all from the first three in the betting.
Six of the last eight winners had all run at Royal Ascot (four from the Coventry Stakes).
Nine of the last ten won on their racecourse debut.
Eight of the last ten winners had run at least twice previously.
Three of the last four winners had run in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
1.55 Goodwood:
Nine of the last ten winners had won over at least two miles
For a race which is flag started it is amazing that seven of the last ten winners were drawn in stall 11 or higher!
Seven of the last ten winners had run over hurdles that year
