Thursday, 2 August 2012: A terrific total of 17 runners go for the £100,000 Group Two Gordon's King George Stakes (3.45pm) over five furlongs at Glorious Goodwood on Friday, August 3, 2012.
They are headed by Australian raider Ortensia, who will carry a 4lb penalty after a pair of Group One successes - the Burswood-Winterbottom Stakes in Australia in November and the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, Dubai, in March.
She disappointed on her first start in the UK when coming home ninth in the five-furlong Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but ran better when fourth over a furlong further in the Group One July Cup at Newmarket on July 14.
Robert Cowell will be relying on his progressive Italian import Spirit Quartz, who was fifth in the King's Stand Stakes, while Kevin Ryan will be represented by last year's winner Masamah.
Bryan Smart has both Group One Prix de l'Abbaye winner Tangerine Trees and Listed scorer Excellete, who finished third to Charlie Hills' Angels Will Fall in a five-furlong Listed race at Ayr on June 23.
William Muir will saddle Stepper Point, who was behind Hamish McGonagall and Pabusar in the Listed City Walls Stakes at York on July 14, while John Best's Stone Of Folca brings strong course form to the table after finishing second in the 2010 bet365 Molecomb Stakes.
Secret Asset, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, also has good course form after winning a five furlong-handicap at Glorious Goodwood last year. He disappointed on his most recent start at Royal Ascot in the Group One King's Stand Stakes but had previously finished third in Singapore's Group One Krisflyer International Sprint in March.
Chapple-Hyam, who trains at Abington Place Stables in Newmarket, said: "Secret Asset has come out of his disappointing run at Royal Ascot in good form and a little bit of give in the ground probably didn't suit him there.
"I will be hoping it doesn't rain at Goodwood but the horse is in good order and I will be looking for a strong run from him.
"He is a course and distance winner so that has got to help. Admittedly that was in a handicap and on Friday he will be stepping up to Group Two company, but he has done all his gallops and he is fit and well.
"You don't know how good they are until you put them in the deep end and as far as we are concerned, finishing second in the Abbaye and third in Singapore shows that he is capable of running in these races."
Ortensia has been based at Abington Place Stables and Chapple-Hyam added: "Leah (Gavraich) has been really pleased with Ortensia and they are hoping for a big run after finishing fourth in the July Cup. They have had no setbacks so they are happy."
The runners also include Roger Varian's Group Three scorer Beyond Desire, Brian Meehan's highly-regarded Elusivity and Henry Candy's multiple Group winner Amour Propre.
The field of 17 is completed by Humidor, representing George Baker, Confessional, trained by Tim Easterby, and Ed McMahon's Noble Storm.
Favourite Trade Commissioner, who won a valuable handicap at Sandown on July 7 and is a 6/1 chance with the sponsor, heads a maximum field of 20 in the £125,000 Betfred Mile (3.10pm) and the heritage handicap also includes last year's winner Boom And Bust, Royal Hunt Cup victorand top-weight Prince Of Johanne and Betfair Summer Double International Heritage Handicap winner Field Of Dream.
Friday's racing starts with the mile and half Group Three Coutts Glorious Stakes (2.00pm, seven runners) and the Group Three action continues with the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes (2.35pm, 15 runners) over a mile.
The two-year-old race on the card is the seven-furlong Telegraph Nursery (4.20pm, 15 runners) which is followed by the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes (4.50pm, 15 runners) over seven furlongs. The concluding race is the five-furlong Betfred Bonus King Bingo Handicap (5.25pm, 18 runners).
UK: Magician works Curragh magic
