Kyprios is fancied to continue his reign at the top of the staying division in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (3.35).
Aidan O'Brien's stayer continued his relentless upward curve with a half-length call over Mojo Star in the Royal Ascot feature. The way the race was run marks it down as an excellent renewal and Galileo's son will have no issue with the shorter yardage here.
Earlier on the card, LUSAIL can strike for the three-year-olds in the Group 2 World Pool Lennox Stakes (3.00). Mark Johnson, who trains in partnership with son Charlie does well at this meeting and DEAR MY FRIEND is the surprise package in the Japan Racing Association Vintage Stakes (2.25) at the same level.
Tuesday racing tips for Goodwood
1.50
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 MOKTASAAB
2 SOTO SIZZLER
3 LEGEND OF DUBAI
MOKTASAAB comes back in distance after failing to stay a mile and a half at Royal Ascot – and makes plenty of appeal.
A one-time winner for Owen Burrows, Lope De Vega’s son has taken his form to a new level for William Knight this season, following a score over 10-furlongs at Newbury in mid-April with a course-and distance success two weeks later.
Things went awry when Callum Shepherd’s mount, carrying the colours of owner Harry Redknapp, went in search of the hat-trick at Epsom on Oaks day – Moktasaab looked all at sea on the track en route to a sixth to Royal Champion, with Soto Sizzler ahead in second and Caradoc (seventh), Cap Francais (10th) and Arqoob (12th) in arrears.
Connections rolled the dice over an additional quarter mile in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap on the Royal heath, and my selection failed to stay. That makes the return to today’s trip the right move, and Moktasaab still has more to give for his current trainer.
Just Fine ran a good sixth in the John Smith’s Cup at York last time out and enters calculations, while Legend Of Dubai must be better than when flopping in the Royal Hunt Cup.
2.25
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 DEAR MY FRIEND
2 HOLLOWAY BOY
3 MYSTERIOUS NIGHT
DEAR MY FRIEND, representing an in-form stable with a fine record at the meeting, is fancied to collect for the third time in three attempts.
Trained in tandem by Mark Johnston and son Charlie, the son of Pivotal made his debut over six furlongs at Carlisle at the end of May, coming home with a wet sail to score by half a length. Dear My Friend then took a hefty step forward when carrying a 6lb penalty in a novice stakes over Beverley’s extended seven furlongs in the middle of last month.
Sent off the 6-5 favourite in a field of 10, Franny Norton’s partner led from the stalls and, hardly out of second gear with two furlongs to race, streaked away to beat Sol Cayo by five lengths.
That success foretold of a successful future in Group company and Dear My Friend, who gives the impression he’s a long way from the bottom of the barrel, can stay unbeaten.
Holloway Boy sprang a 40-1 shock on his debut when landing the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and is feared, with Mysterious Night and Dark Thirty next on the list.
3.00
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 LUSAIL
2 SACRED
3 KINROSS
LUSAIL, who drops in class after three defeats in the top tier, is due a change of luck.
This level of competition held no terrors for Richard Hannon’s son of Mehmas as a two-year-old in 2021 – he lifted the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket before following up in York’s Gimcrack Stakes in August.
Although beaten by Perfect Power in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April on his return, Lusail went for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket two weeks on, and ran well above his 80-1 starting price with a sixth – he would have finished closer but for being meeting with trouble going into the final quarter mile – to Coroebus.
Pat Dobbs’ narrowed the gap on Godolphin’s winner to just a head in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, well placed at the head of affairs and sticking to his task in a stirring finish.
Coming back to this afternoon’s seven-furlong trip for the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville 16 days ago, Lusail ran with credit in returning third to Aidan O’Brien’s back-to-form Tenebrism.
A reproduction of the Ascot or Deauville form would put my selection firmly in the firing line here.
Sacred, who rattled home over six furlongs in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, is the most convincing candidate for the minor medals, ahead of last year’s winner Kinross and, at bigger prices, Sandrine.
3.35
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 KYPRIOS
2 TRUESHAN
3 STRAIVARIUS
KYPRIOS should confirm himself as the new boss of the staying division.
His victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot threw up a good many talking points – chiefly whether third home Stradivarius was, in fact, the moral winner of the Ladies’ Day feature.
It’s true that Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori, who has lost the ride to compatriot Andrea Atzeni, were forced to switch to the outside in search of daylight just as a funeral cortège gallop finally began to lift entering the final quarter mile.
But, once he found clear water, the John and Thady Gosden-saddled eight-year-old – the three-time Gold Cup hero was bidding to match his tally of four Goodwood Cups - found a change of gear beyond him, returning a length and a quarter behind the winner in third, with Princess Zoe in sixth.
For his part, Kyprios gave the strong impression he could find more if the situation required as he gained a first Group 1 triumph at his first attempt.
The four-year-old son of Galileo had opened his campaign with scores over a mile and three-quarters in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan and Leopardstown’s Group 3 Saval Beg Stakes, and this afternoon’s two-mile distance looks ideal as he seeks to complete the Ascot-Goodwood double.
Trueshan and Hollie Doyle won this race 12 months ago and will be on the premises if the rain arrives, with the improving Coltrane knocking on the door for the podium.
4.10
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 ATALIS BAY
2 EQUALITY
3 RAYONG
ATALIS BAY is well treated for his return to handicap company. Robert Cowell’s sprinter ran a close third from a British Horseracing Authority mark of 103 at Haydock Park last September when last seen in this sphere.
The four-year-old returned from a gelding operation to finish seventh in Listed grade at 17 days ago and is a definite player if able to build on that. In a race of near-endless possibilities, Celsius, Equality, Indian Creek and Rayong sit at the top of a long short list.
4.45
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 CELTIC CHAMPION
2 CHARTWELL HOUSE
3 MASTER OF CHANT
CELTIC CHAMPION showed enough promise on his Windsor debut last month to make him of interest here. Not unfancied at 11-2 for seven-runner maiden over six furlongs on Thameside, the Andrew Balding-trained juvenile spoiled his chance with a slow start, before coming home to take third, beaten just over two lengths, behind Bluelight Bay.
Both the second and fourth home have won since, and David Probert’s partner should take a step forward on his second start. Mischief Magic, Chartwell House and Master Of Chant have all shown ability and are respected.
