The penultimate afternoon of Glorious Goodwood comes along on Friday and, fittingly for Goodwood, it's all about speed in the feature King George Qatar Stakes.
The five-furlong Group 2 is run over what is widely acclaimed as the fastest sprint course in Europe and this year's race is to be headlined by Highfield Princess, the mare seeking to regain the top-level winning form she found last summer.
Enda McElhinney previews Friday's big race at Goodwood alongside some of the supporting contests at the Sussex circuit.
3.35 – King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2, 5f)
The presence of Highfield Princess in this 11-runner contest certainly sways the market significantly. John Quinn's mare completed a top-level European hat-trick with victories in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five last season.
A good second at York in May's comeback when conceding a penalty, she was second to Bradsell in the King's Stand (5f) at Royal Ascot in June and third four days later in the Jubilee Stakes (6f) at the same venue.
She will be seeking to re-establish herself as the leading five-furlong sprinter in Britain now and sets the standard. She is 0-3 this summer of course and this will be a battle, ensuring there might be some value in opposing the odds-on favourite.
The Charlie Hills-trained Equality, winner of a Sandown Group 3 last time from Makarova, is a solid rival, while Hills will also saddle Equilateral, fifth in the King's Stand last time out.
Johnny Murtagh sends over LADIES CHURCH and she could be a contender for the Irishman. As a two-year-old, the daughter of Churchill was a Listed winner over this trip at Naas in 2021 and she added a Group 2 victory last summer in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.
She was a commanding winner in the Listed Sole Power Stakes over the minimum trip at the Curragh in May and that represented a personal best, after which Murtagh touted her for the King's Stand.
She was only fourth in the Sapphire Stakes last time but soft ground there was no help and if conditions keep drying she is not without an each-way squeak.
Silky Wilkie ordinarily would look shy of Group 2 sprinting class but he's a solid performer and, at four, the son of Mehmas has shown improved form this season for Karl Burke, finishing second in the Epsom Dash and a York Listed race most recently. He's another worthy place player.
SELECTION: LADIES CHURCH @ 8/1
NEXT BEST: SILKY WILKIE @ 16/1
1.50 - Coral Goodwood Handicap (2m4½f)
The opener on day four is a thorough stamina test in excess of two-and-a-half-miles and, despite top-weight, Calling The Wind heads the betting for Richard Hughes after last month's Northumberland Plate win at Newcastle. He is rated 4lb higher back on the grass and is a player.
Robert Johnson has won five out of his last six starts for Phil Kirby and was much too strong at York (2m½f, good to soft) last time. He takes a rise in class now and has more on his plate from this mark but is clearly thriving and might have more to give up in trip.
TRITONIC has always been useful on the Flat and while he was a Grade 2-winning juvenile over hurdles in 2021, he has perhaps not fulfilled over obstacles as hoped.
He won here last October over 1m4f and enjoyed a solid if not spectacular time back jumping afterwards. The Chester Cup in May saw him poorly positioned throughout and never a factor but he ran a fine race at Royal Ascot when third in the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f. He is closely matched with second home Calling The Wind on that effort and is now 9lb better off, ensuring Alan King's charge is fancied to give this a rattle at a track he handles.
NEXT BEST: ROBERT JOHNSON @ 7/1
