Racing returns to Goodwood for the first time since the Qatar Goodwood Festival. On Saturday 26 August, day two of the August Bank Holiday meeting, the feature race of the weekend has attracted a strong field of 11 confirmations for the Group 2, William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes.
Epictetus returns following his Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) victory at the start of this month to head the confirmations. The John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old will be hoping to back up another victory at Goodwood.
Nostrum is another leading contender for the £150,000 contest. Nostrum was last seen when finishing only a length behind Epictetus at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and will be looking to reverse the form following defeat in soft conditions. Nostrum, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has always been held in high regard by connections and was impressive when winning a Listed race at Newmarket on reappearance. He will be looking to return to that form this Saturday.
Open to horses three years or older, the three-year-olds will be taking on older milers. This includes the five-year-old Random Harvest, trained by Ed Walker, who was last seen when successful at Ascot in July in the Group 3 Longines Valiant Stakes for Fillies and Mares.
Trainer William Haggas has two entries in the race. Five-year-old Aldaary who returns having been fourth in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) against the formidable Paddington and Al Mubhir who also ran at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in the Coral Golden Mile having finished eighth.
Simon and Ed Crisford have a good record in this race after winning it last year with Jadoomi and the 2020 running with Century Dream. Following these victories, they return this year with Knight who is looking for a first victory since the Virgin Bet Horris Hill Stakes (Group 3) last October.
Ed Arkell, Director of Racing at Goodwood, said: “We are delighted with the entries for the Group 2, William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes. To see many of these horses return following runs at the Qatar Goodwood Festival is brilliant and it looks to be a competitive renewal.”
