Saturday 29th August 2026
I’m back in action this Saturday with two bets from Goodwood, and I’ll dive straight into the first: the 3.10 Group 2 Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes, contested over a mile. I’m with the three-year-old here in ZAVATERI for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop. He’s the highest rated in the race and receives weight off his elders, which is a significant advantage, and he was somewhat of a revelation last season as a two-year-old. He won his first four starts, including back-to-back Group 2s in the July Stakes and the Vintage Stakes, before adding Group 1 success to his CV with a win in the National Stakes at the Curragh.
He had a long break before returning to the track in April, and has run with credit when finishing fifth in Group 1 company at both Goodwood and York behind Bow Echo and Notable Speech. There isn’t anything of their calibre within this contest, and I think he can make his presence felt within Group 2 company off these terms. Seagulls Eleven is a player at this level for Hugo Palmer, and enjoyed a fine start to the campaign before an underwhelming display at this track in Group 1 company, and the same can also be said for the consistent Boiling Point, who is likely to be on the premises for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee.
Selection: Zavateri – (9/4) (Win) (NAP)
Shortlist: Seagulls Eleven (4/1), Boiling Point (9/2)
3.10 Goodwood
My second selection comes in the following race, the 3.45, and this is the Darley EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, a Class 2 affair contested over a mile and two furlongs. I’ve come down on the William Haggas-trained EVENING CALL here, who’s the mount of Cieren Fallon. She was last of three on debut at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago; however, that doesn’t tell the full story. She was only a couple of lengths behind the winner, and kept to her task well despite being under the pump for a long way, suggesting that this step up to ten furlongs should suit, which is also backed up in her pedigree being by Wootton Bassett. Naturally, she should also show significant progression going from her first start to her second, and it would be no shock to see her go very close here.
Tropical Sands is the correct favourite on all known form; she was narrowly denied last time out on what was her third start, and she’ll likely be a big player once again here for Ed Walker and Clifford Lee. The Andrew Balding-trained Marquetry makes significant appeal on paper, and is one to certainly keep an eye on in the betting under Rob Hornby.
Selection: Evening Call – (4/1) (Win) (NB)
Shortlist: Tropical Sands (5/2), Marquetry (4/1)
3.45 Goodwood
