Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Frankel Seeking Glory at Goodwood


Glorious Goodwood begins on Tuesday, with most attention at the five-day meeting on the unbeaten Frankel.

Sir Henry Cecil's colt has won his first 11 races and is a long odds-on shot to defend his Sussex Stakes title against three rivals on Wednesday.

Richard Hannon seeks his third Lennox Stakes in five years on Tuesday with stable stalwart Libranno .

Last year's winner Hoof It is out of Stewards' Cup on Saturday, which also features the Nassau Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien had the choice of Irish Guineas winner Power, Jersey Stakes winner Ishvana or Reply for the coveted Group one-mile Sussex Stakes, but has not declared any of them.

Frankel's main test now looks likely to come from Godolphin's four-year-old Farhh, third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last time.

Stablemate and pacemaker Bullet Train,and Richard Fahey's Gabrial, who stepped up from handicap company to finish fifth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, are the only other runners.

Sir Henry is continuing to have cancer treatment and will not be able to attend Goodwood to watch his prize four-year-old.

"Although I am able to train my horses, I'm not quite fit to go racing yet, but I hope to be fully recovered in the near future," he said.

"Everything has gone as we could have wished with Frankel since the Queen Anne Stakes. We gave him an easy time immediately after Royal Ascot before bringing him back into fast work.

"He has pleased us with his work and is going to the Sussex Stakes in good shape. We are taking one race at a time with him and are hoping that he can extend his unbeaten record."

Ladies' Day on Thursday features the Goodwood Cup over two miles, won last year by Frankie Dettori on Opinion Poll, who was second to Dettori and Colour Vision in this year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

There are currently 43 horses entered for the Goodwood Mile on Friday, with John Gosden-trained four-year-old Trade Commissionerhighly regarded after completing successive wins over the distance in the Challenge Handicap at Sandown.

Hoof It, owned by golfer Lee Westwood and agent Chubby Chandler, would have been forced to carry a huge burden in the Stewards' Cup and now competes in Group races.

James Fanshawe's Hallelujah, third in the Summer Stakes at York last time, has been at the head of the market for some time and is still in contention for a start.

Also on the final day is the Group One Nassau Stakes, won for the last three years by Sir Henry's Midday, who has since been retired.

Timepiece is Sir Henry's offering this year, while Gosden has strong contenders in Izzi Top and The Fugue.

Goodwood organisers are confident that the Olympics will not have any impact on attendances at the picturesque West Sussex venue this week.

"We are expecting a full house, particularly on Wednesday, because of the great interest surrounding Frankel," Goodwood marketing executive Lucy Faith told BBC Sport.

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