3 minute read
We are set for one of the most open Group 1 feature races of the season when seventeen sprinters descend on Morphettville for The Goodwood.
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Takeover Target and Black Caviar are both included in the long list of The Goodwood winners, and with gallopers from every corner of Australia engaged this year, we really are set for a race to remember.
Before you place your bets, be sure to scroll down and check out our comprehensive runner-by-runner preview of The Goodwood, including tips.
2024 The Goodwood Betting Strategy
► 2 Units Oscar's Fortune (Win)
► 1 Unit Learning To Fly (Win)
► Boxed Trifecta (2,6,14,15,16)
1 – Vilana (16)
One horse that has always hinted at Group 1 talent in The Goodwood field this year is Vilana.
Vilana has picked off some lovely races throughout twenty-one appearances since debuting, and he returned to action to finish second, beaten less than a length by a fit Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick on All Aged Day.
There is no doubt at all that he'll improve for that hit-out, and while his task did grow harder when allocated a wide draw on Tuesday, he is far better than the $31 odds available in The Goodwood betting at publish.
2 – Amelia's Jewel (9)
Perth star Amelia's Jewel chases a second career Group 1 title and has opened a warm favourite in The Goodwood betting ($4.60 at publish).
Amelia's Jewel looked like she could be anything upon debuting back in 2022, winning seven of her first eight career starts, including the Northerly Stakes.
The bubble did burst a little during her east coast spring prep last year, but she looks to have returned in sharp form again this time, having finished second in both the Roma Cup and The Quokka over in Perth.
Fitter third-up, it does look the perfect Group 1 target for her.
3 – Climbing Star (13)
Climbing Star is now a Group 1 winner, and The Goodwood is the next obvious target!
She's always had above-average ability, but there is no doubt that she has gone to a new level this time, and Climbing Star returned to action to win the Matrice Stakes here back in March before only just missing behind Benedetta in the Irwin Stakes.
Sent off a $26 shot in the Robert Sangster Stakes a fortnight ago, Lachie Neindorf returned the ride of his career to pilot the talented mare to victory.
Given that she jumped from Barrier 14 in that race, 13 doesn't concern me at all, and with even luck, the horse is clearly up to this.
4 – Sghirripa (15)
Talented local Sghirripa gets another chance in Group 1 company in The Goodwood.
Sghirripa returned to action in the summer an improved galloper, winning the Christmas Stakes and the Standish Handicap in Melbourne.
He didn't enjoy any luck at all in the Oakleigh Plate but still finished off well, only two lengths behind the winner, while his two subsequent runs have also been full of merit.
He hasn't fared particularly well at the barrier draw again, but we know that Sghirripa will return his usual tough performance in The Goodwood.
5 – Extremely Lucky (6)
Extremely Luck steps out second-up and primed for another big performance in The Goodwood 2024.
The Extreme Choice gelding kicked off his career impressively under the guidance of Will Clarken impressively back in 2021, but a transfer to the care of Chris Waller didn't herald the anticipated results.
Fast-forward to this year, he's back with the same Morphettville-based stable and he returned a winner in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes a fortnight ago: one of the key Goodwood form races.
With natural improvement and from the good draw, he's a live chance again this week.
6 – I Am Me (1)
I Am Me has been a model of consistency throughout her twenty career starts and looms as a key winning chance again in The Goodwood.
A winner of the lucrative Sydney Stakes at Randwick on Everest Day last year, I Am Me ended her campaign with consecutive second placings in Group 1 company and returned to action to finish third behind Imperatriz in the William Reid.
Having arrived in Adelaide to finish fourth, beaten a length and a half in the Robert Sangster Stakes a fortnight ago, improvement is required, but she is more than up to something of this quality and has options in running from the rails draw.
7 – Benedetta (3)
Benedetta is hard fit and was a real winner at Tuesday's The Goodwood barrier draw.
The Hellbent mare has been the stable-star for Group 1 winning trainer, Jason Warren, since making her debut, and after consecutive fourth place finishes in the Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket Handicap first and second up this time, she debuted in Adelaide for a smart win in the Irwin Stakes, beating home Climbing Star.
She was third, beaten less than half a length by that horse in the Sangster a fortnight ago and kept her best work for late.
A repeat of that performances, dropping in the weights and from a good draw under Jamie Kah, and she looks a genuine winning chance again.
8 – Arkansaw Kid (17)
Three-year-old Arkansaw Kid takes his place in The Goodwood field third-up.
Having finished fifth, comfortably beaten in a couple of weaker races this time in, he'd need to improve noticeably to worry some of these rivals, while his hopes took another hit on Tuesday when he drew the carpark.
9 – Johnny Rocker (12)
Johnny Rocker nearly pulled off the upset of the season when he ran Imperatriz to a head in the William Reid Stakes, but he only managed to finish eight in the TJ Smith Stakes a couple of weeks later.
He has ability, but he'd need a lot to go right again this week, and he looks a touch of unders in The Goodwood betting in my opinion ($8 at publish).
10 – Rubamos (2)
Rubamos faces a big rise in class into The Goodwood field and has gone up at odds of $151.
It's hard to see him worrying most of his rivals this week.
11 – What You Need (11)
What You Need is yet to miss placing in five career starts since debuting, but there is no doubt that this is his sternest test to date.
The Supido entire stamped himself as one to watch by winning each of his first three career starts, and he has filled the minors in a couple of black type sprints at his last two.
He's hard fit and not the worst roughie in The Goodwood betting, but he'd need to go to another level.
12 – Karacasu (4)
South Australian local Karacasu has turned in some nice performances throughout his career and has drawn ideally into The Goodwood field in barrier 4.
He's open to further improvement third-up on Saturday, but this does race does look a little too sharp for him.
13 – Grinzinger Prince (10)
Grinzinger Prince raced well at a far weaker grade earlier in his prep but was well beaten in the Matrice Stakes here last time out.
This looks to be a genuine throw at the stumps by trainer Cody Reardon.
14 – Learning To Fly (14)
Learning To Fly is a key winning chance in The Goodwood field this year.
She was excellent during her two-year-old season, and following nearly a year on the sidelines, the Justify filly has turned in some sharp performances this time in, including an eye-catching run into second behind Climbing Star a fortnight ago.
She takes weight from the lion's share of her rivals and with even luck in running, she can win.
15 – Oscar's Fortune (8)
Another three-year-old with winning claims in The Goodwood 2024 is Oscar's Fortune.
Oscar's Fortune simply does not know how to run a bad race, and after winning each of his first four career starts, he was only denied by huge performances when second in the Placid Ark Stakes and the Winterbottom during the Perth Summer Carnival.
So far this time, he's knocked off Amelia's Jewel in the Roma Cup and finished third in The Quokka most notably, and he's absolutely cherry ripe for The Goodwood.
53.5kgs and William Pike: tick, TICK!
16 – Skybird (5)
The talented three-year-old engaged in The Goodwood field this year extends to Skybird, who is yet another key winning chance.
The Exosphere filly has made just six appearances at the races so far, but she has been outstanding on her way to four wins and a placing in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas in the spring.
She blew them away in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes a fortnight ago, and in peak order this week, she's another whom I really cannot fault ahead of this Group 1 feature race.
17 – Stretan Angel (7)
Stretan Angel is yet to strike in three runs back from a break and was last seen finishing sixth, beaten nearly three lengths in the Sangster.
She's hard fit but would need to go to another level to be crowned The Goodwood winner.
