Friday 4th August 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my previews for this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival which is set to take place from Tuesday all the way through to Saturday. I’ll be giving my opinions throughout the full week, so as ever, if you are having a punt make sure to do it in a responsible manner.
1.50: Coral Goodwood Handicap: We kick things off again on Day 4 with handicap action over a marathon trip of two miles and four and a half furlongs. In this competitive affair I’m taking a chance on Mostly Sunny, who’s quite ironically named for Heather Main and Hayley Turner. He’s currently trading at around the 12/1 mark and has been in decent form lately, finishing second on his last two outings with the most recent effort coming within the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle. He’s got form at the track and on a testing surface, so at a decent price, he’ll do for me. Mostly Sunny – 12/1 (Each-Way)
2.25: Thoroughbred Stakes: It’s Group 3 action at 2:25 with the Thoroughbred Stakes over a mile and this looks to be all about Nostrum for me for the team of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He currently heads the betting at short odds and I think he could well prove to be a cut above this field. He won the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket last season before finishing third in the Dewhurst behind Chaldean. Following those fine efforts he returned to the track last month, once again at Newmarket, and bolted up within Listed company, he’s not yet raced on soft going but he’s by Kingman who posted some serious performances on testing surfaces. I think he’ll be incredibly tough to beat. Nostrum – 8/13 (Win)
3.00: Golden Mile: We go back to handicap action at 3:00 with the Golden Mile taking centre-stage which is a Heritage Handicap, and yes you guessed it, over a mile. I think it could pay to side with Tacarib Bay in this who’s currently trading at a best price of 9/1 for the team of Richard Hannon and Sean Levey. He’s a battle-hardened horse who won’t have any issues with the ground and arrives here off a very encouraging effort at Ascot last weekend when he finished sixth of twenty-five in another Heritage Handicap. He remains on the same mark here and if getting some luck in what could be a very messy affair, has every chance of going well. Tacarib Bay – 9/1 (Each-Way)
3.35: King George Qatar Stakes: The feature on Friday is the King George Qatar Stakes which comes up at 3:35 over five furlongs and it’s a Group 2 affair. Some great sprinters have won this over the years, most notably it’s a race which the great Battaash made his own and I think this year’s renewal can go to another fantastic one in Highfield Princess for John Quinn and John Hart. She had a fantastic campaign last term, winning the Nunthorpe and Flying Five and she’s been in solid form this term without managing to win. She placed on two starts at Royal Ascot in the King’s Stand and QEII Jubilee Stakes, and I actually think the form of both of those runs could be enough to win this. She looks to be clear on ratings and I think she can add this to her already illustrious CV. Highfield Princess – 10/11 (Win) (NAP)
