Goodwood Scene Set
J A McGrath
24 July, 2016
Godolphin are preparing for one of the busiest weeks of the European racing season, with five days of Glorious Goodwood spilling over into the opening of Deauville.
Godolphin are preparing for one of the busiest weeks of the European racing season, with five days of Glorious Goodwood spilling over into the opening of Deauville.
And John Ferguson, Godolphin's chief executive racing manager, is anticipating solid representation across the board -- and the occasional surprise along the way.
"Take the G2 Lennox Stakes on Tuesday for example," Ferguson said. "We have Home Of The Brave, who will love the ground and the track, Dutch Connection, who ran well in the race last year, and Birchwood, who goes there off the back of a Listed win at Chester."
The trio are trained by Hugo Palmer, Charlie Hills and Richard Fahey, respectively. "We have three happy trainers, and three good chances, in a high-profile race that is always competitive," he added.
But if the more-established types tend to dominate discussions at this early stage, Godolphin's juveniles are the ones with even greater potential to make headlines before the end of the meeting.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Boynton, who won the G2 Superlative Stakes on Newmarket's July course very impressively, has excellent prospects in Tuesday's G2 Vintage Stakes, over seven furlongs, in which he will be partnered by James Doyle.
He is set to be joined in the Vintage by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow, who will be ridden by James McDonald, the visiting New Zealander currently enjoying a successful summer in Europe.
"Charlie said that Boynton has come out of his Newmarket race very well, and that he is now ready to take the next step forward. The Vintage is the ideal race for him," Ferguson said.
Then, there is Thursday's G2 Richmond Stakes, in which the Appleby-trained Blue Point will attempt a hat-trick of wins following victories at Nottingham and Doncaster on his first two outings. His most recent win was stunning.
"Willie Ryan has been riding him every day, and he is very happy with him. Blue Point has a huge chance in the Richmond," Ferguson pointed out.
And the surprise, albeit a pleasant one, that Ferguson is anticipating at Goodwood?
"I believe that Ribchester could spring a surprise in the G1 Sussex Stakes. Richard Fahey says he has improved at home since his good win in the G2 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot," Ferguson said.
