Stakes race quality will be front and centre at Goodwood this Sunday as the Family Race Day plays host to competitive renewals of the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies’ Stakes and Listed BetGoodwin Tapster Stakes.
Racegoers are set to enjoy a dry and sunny afternoon, but recent rainfall has altered ground conditions from those seen at earlier meetings on the Sussex Downs track. At the time of declarations, the going is officially Good to Soft, and with further showers forecast, horses with proven form on softer ground may hold an advantage.
The Agnes Keyser Fillies’ Stakes (3:35pm), the first of Sunday’s feature races, has attracted a large and intriguing field of 12, many of whom boast strong credentials in testing conditions.
Among the standout contenders are Tattycoram, trained by Ralph Beckett, and Miss Tonnerre from the Ed Walker yard. The pair finished fourth and fifth respectively in a strung-out renewal of the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York, and both will be looking to improve on those efforts. Both yards have been in red-hot form since then, and improved performances would not come as a surprise.
Trainer Ed Walker commented ahead of the race:
“We were very disappointed with her run in the Musidora and felt there were reasons for it. We’re hoping she can prove that run was wrong. She won’t mind a bit of ease in the ground but wouldn’t want it to turn heavy — she didn’t enjoy it at Deauville last year. We think she’s a smart filly, so hopefully she can get back on track.”
Leading trainer William Haggas, who won this race in 2018 with the subsequent Classic heroine Sea of Class, will saddle three runners.
Likely first string is the progressive Purple Rainbow, a filly who has shown promise in three career starts and will be ridden by stable jockey Tom Marquand.
Marquand said: “She’s a lovely filly and still progressing. She obviously won well at Kempton over the mile and then ran a really respectable race at Ascot on her latest start. We took a lead on her and thought that showed she really wants 10 furlongs now. I’m looking forward to wearing the Royal silks as always, and hopefully she’ll put in a bold bid.”
Also representing Haggas is Anna Swan, making her second appearance for the yard since joining from Sir Michael Stoute. A dual winner last season, she finished last on her seasonal and stable debut in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on good to firm ground. Softer conditions this time are expected to suit better.
Completing the trio is Rhapsody, owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. She returns to Goodwood after a below-par run in the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes but has winning form at Yarmouth on softer ground.
Also returning to the Sussex Downs is Queen of Thieves, trained by John and Thady Gosden. She finished sixth in the Height of Fashion and is aiming to earn valuable black type for owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer. The Gosden team also sends the lightly raced El Budoor, a winner on her second start at Lingfield.
Local trainer David Menuisier saddles Janey Mackers who was a non-runner at Goodwood’s May Festival due to unsuitable ground. A winner on soft going at Doncaster, she should relish Sunday’s conditions.
Other runners with form on softer surfaces include Waardah for Owen Burrows and the more experienced Modern Utopia, trained by George Scott.
The field is rounded out by Bowerchalke (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Quebella (Richard Hughes), both seeking a breakthrough performance at this level.
The Listed BetGoodwin Tapster Stakes (4:45pm) has attracted a small but high-quality field of six for the 1m4f contest.
Fan favourite Hamish, trained by William Haggas and ridden at home by his wife Maureen, is a multiple Group winner and returns to a course he knows well — having won the Group 3 King’s Plate Glorious Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. A confirmed soft ground performer, Hamish’s presence adds star quality to Sunday’s line-up.
Regular rider, Tom Marquand said:
“He is an absolute superstar. Hopefully all the rain hits as he’ll need it. He’s ultra consistent and a winner at the track. He’s one of our yard favourites who’s well proven at this level. We haven’t been able to get him out this year as the ground has been too quick, so hopefully this is a great opportunity to start off his season in good fashion.”
Trainer Karl Burke, enjoying a purple patch in recent weeks, sends Bolster, who also favours softer conditions.
On his chances, Burke said:
“I’m looking forward to seeing Bolster this weekend. He’ll love any rain that arrives. Obviously, stepping up in trip is a slight question mark, although I think he has a good chance of staying. We’re heading down there for the ground as much as anything, but he’s in good form and I’m sure he’ll put up a good show.”
The Gosden stable is doubly represented. The standout is Palladium, a former German Derby winner, now owned by Lady Bamford. After a brief stint over hurdles with Nicky Henderson, where he scored at Huntingdon, Palladium now embarks on a new chapter back on the Flat. The son of Gleneagles makes his stable debut in this intriguing Listed test.
Their second runner is Military Academy, a Listed winner at Kempton who was last seen finishing seventh in the Group 3 King’s Cup in Bahrain.
Adding another layer of intrigue is Galashiels, trained by Nicky Henderson, better known for his National Hunt exploits. Formerly trained in France by André Fabre, Galashiels was a Listed winner in the Prix Lord Seymour, beating subsequent Group 1 winner Goliath. Sunday marks his British debut under new connections.
Completing the field is the consistent Raja Raja, trained by David Simcock, who adds further depth to a race brimming with proven stakes performers and fascinating stories.
-ENDS-
