3 minute read
Goodwood is set to host some high-class action this Sunday, with the Listed Weatherby's / British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes (1m2f) and the Listed William Hill Tapster Stakes (1m4f) topping the bill.
The first of two Listed events taking place is the 3:20 Weatherby's / British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes (1m2f) with a field of 8 taking part.
The Shadwell runner Al Asifah is an interesting contender, having won her maiden in nice style last month, her only career start to date. This 3-year-old Frankel filly is bred to be high class and looked every bit of it on debut.
Empress Wu is a fascinating runner for the David Simcock team, having run last time out in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes, won by subsequent Oaks heroine Soul Sister.
She finished 7th that day, but was far from disgraced, making her an interesting contender here.
Conservationist, however, could be a major danger to the others. She is a winner on just one occasion but was second last time out in a Class 3 handicap, looking like an improving filly for the Clive Cox team.
The second Listed contest on Goodwood's high-class card this Sunday is the William Hill Tapster Stakes (1m4f). A field of just four will be lining up here, but it promises to be a competitive race nevertheless.
First Ruler is the Charlie Appleby runner, who was a winner in Meydan over the winter, as well as second in a Listed contest in Bahrain when last seen.
This son of Dubwai has finished outside the first three on just one occasion and looks to have improved since being gelded last October.
First Ruler will have it far from easy with the likes of Peripatetic in the field, however, the Roger Varian challenger.
She ended her campaign last season with a second in the Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes (Group 3), as well as a fourth in the Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes (Group 3).
Looks to be a real danger to the Godolphin globetrotter, gaining the fillies' weight allowance as well.
The field is made up by the Richard Hannon runner Rousay, the mount of Sean Levey and Candleford for the William Haggas team, both seen finishing third and fourth last October in a Listed contest at Kempton on their most recent starts.
The opener on the card at Goodwood is the 1:35 William Hill Epic Value Handicap (7f) and looks to be a very competitive race.
The David Simcock team run Chola Empire, looking to show similar form to that last month when finishing fourth in a Class 2 contest at Newmarket.
This 4-year-old son of Territories is very consistent, finishing outside the first 4 on just 3 occasions in his career.
He will be hoping to get his head back in front this time around.
The 7-year-old Light And Dark is the runner for the Saeed Bin Suroor team, looking to maintain the current solid stable form.
He has been campaigned over in Meydan across the winter, where he finished 5th and 13th on his two starts. He will be bidding to get back to winning ways with the return to British soil this Sunday.
The 2:10 is the British EBF 40th Anniversary Novice Stakes (6f) for 2-year-olds. The £180,000 Amo Racing purchase Thunder Blue for the Dominic Ffrench Davis looks to be a smart prospect, finishing a close second on debut.
Pedigree suggests he could be very good, being a son of Blue Point, out of a Group placed mare. He will attempt to prove his price tag worthy with a win here.
He isn't the only runner however with a strong pedigree, for the Roger Varian-trained son of Mehmas, Warm Spell cost his owners 260,000gns. He will be making his debut here with David Egan taking the ride.
