The unbeaten Godolphin juvenile Blue Point figures prominently in discussions on one of the most important two-year-old races of the season, Thursday's G2 Richmond Stakes, on the third day of Glorious Goodwood.
The unbeaten Godolphin juvenile Blue Point figures prominently in discussions on one of the most important two-year-old races of the season, Thursday's G2 Richmond Stakes, on the third day of Glorious Goodwood.
Both the colt's wins have come in minor races, at Nottingham and Doncaster, but in the latter he powered away from his opposition to win impressively by 11 lengths.
This time, he faces Mehmas, winner of the G2 July Stakes, Intelligence Cross, the runner-up in that race, Ardad, winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, plus the progressive Waqaas, who has won one of his three starts.
Trainer Charlie Appleby is the first to recognise the size of the challenge facing Blue Point, though he is a big fan of the colt, who has consistently caught the eye in his work at home.
"He is two from two so far, and he was visually impressive when winning at Doncaster," Appleby pointed out.
"But he is now stepping up to Group company. Having said that, I'm confident he's ready to take that step forward," the trainer added.
James Doyle takes the mount on Blue Point for the first time, and it is easy to detect the excitement that booking has generated. William Buick had the ride at Nottingham while James McDonald was aboard at Doncaster.
Doyle said: "I've never sat on Blue Point, even at home, but I have seen what he can do. He was impressive at Doncaster, and I am really looking forward to riding him in the Richmond," he added.
The Richard Hannon-trained Mehmas sets the standard in an intriguing five-runner contest. He finished second to Caravaggio in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before going on to win at Newmarket.
The other G2 race on Goodwood's third day is the two-mile Goodwood Cup, which the Michael Bell-trained Big Orange will attempt to win for the second year in succession.
Big Orange is a much-improved stayer, as he showed when making all for a second win in Newmarket's G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes. He seems a better horse since returning from a trip to Australia, where he finished fifth in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
A three-year-old could pose the biggest danger, namely Sword Fighter, a progressive staying three-year-old, who won the Listed Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and the G2 Curragh Cup.
