Goodwood continues their Glorious meeting on Wednesday and the second day is headlined by the Goodwood Cup. A Group 1 that is part of the British Champions Series, the post time for the 2020 renewal is 3.15pm on Wednesday 29th July. It will be broadcast on both the ITV main channel and Racing TV.
The Sussex Stakes is one of the biggest races of the entire flat calendar, as the three-year-old milers get one of their first chances to face their elders at the top-level. Won by the likes of Rip Van Winkle, Canford Cliffs, Frankel, Toronado and Kingman in recent years, it takes a special horse to be taking out this illustrious contest.
You can find everything you need to know about the Sussex Stakes below, from the thoughts and analysis of our experts, valuable stats and trends, free bets and our Sussex Stakes tip.
Unbeaten in five starts thus far, he’s drawn comparisons to some illustrious horses in his short career. Ending his juvenile career with a Group 1 success at the Curragh, he returned to that venue ten months later to win the Irish 2000 Guineas in superb style. Hugely talented with plenty of gears, he’s a deserving favourite.
Lightly-raced four-year-old who has soared to new heights this season. He was hugely unlucky in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot on return when finishing on the bridle, making amends with a dominant victory a month later in Group 2 company. He’s unexposed over the mile and is profile is hugely progressive. Obvious claims despite conceding weight to Siskin and the other three-year-olds.
Group 1 winner at Newcastle to end his juvenile campaign and returned as a three-year-old to win the 2000 Guineas despite hanging badly in the closing stages. He was a non-stayer on the Epsom Derby but returns to a mile distance where his best form puts him very close with Siskin. Well-thought of and has to be deeply respected back to his optimum distance.
Yet to win above Group 3 company but has bumped into some very smart types along the way. Third to Pinatubo last October in the Dewhurst, he was only a neck behind Kameko on return in the 2000 Guineas. He ran a superb race when third in the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot and has Frankie Dettori back on board, so needs to be considered.
Circus Maximus
Dual Group 1 winner as a three-year-old and made a triumphant return last month when landing the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in a gutsy performance. Extremely consistent commodity who is still unexposed, given that his return was a career-best effort. No easy task conceding weight to some potential superstar quality three-year-olds but no surprise to see him bang there.
Unbeaten in five career starts to date, Siskin couldn’t have looked much more impressive when upped to the mile on his return in the Irish 2000 Guineas. A strong traveller who has plenty of gears, we’re nowhere near the bottom of this professional son of First Defence just yet.
His first run on British shores puts him against the toughest field he’s faced thus far. That being said, this is only his second run over the mile and the potential for further improvement is frightening. Retaining his unbeaten record certainly looks on the cards.
Given the truncated nature of the season, the trends perhaps have less of a bearing on this year’s Sussex Stakes. Nevertheless, they are a good indicator, and the strong record of favourites is a boost to the Siskin camp.
Mohaather and Circus Maximus are the only horses rated 120, with the latter having three Group 1 victories heading onto the Sussex Downs.
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