The 5 day Glorious Goodwood Festival got underway today (28th) and finishes on Saturday 1st August when the Group 1 Nassau Stakes worth £200,000.00 will be run. This is a 1 mile 2 furlong race for 3 year old and upwards fillies and mares. Perhaps Rainbow View will now be running over her best distance and hopefully she will get her nose in front where it matters.
The other Group 1 of the week, the Sussex Stakes, will be run tomorrow. This should be the highlight of the meeting. It is a race for 3 year olds and upwards worth £300,000.00 run over 1 mile. On form it looks to be between Rip Van Winkle, Paco Boy and Ghanaati. Johnny Murtagh considers this could be Rip Van Winkle’s best distance. If he has recovered from his exertions against Sea the Stars ( pictured) in the Coral Eclipse, he should win.
It was good to see Marcus Tregoning’s horses back in form with Finjaan winning today. On Thursday he runs Askar Tau in the Goodwood Cup, a race for 3 year olds and upwards run over 2 miles. Askar Tau has not run since starting favourite and finishing fourth to Caracciola in the Cesarewitch last October. This is a step up but he looked a progressive horse last season and has age on his side.
