The Mandarin’s Goodwood Racecard for Saturday 3rd July 2024

The Mandarin’s Goodwood Racecard for Saturday 3rd July

Coral Glorious Stakes (Group 3) 1.50
Aimeric (nap)
It’s a small field of just the five for this Group 3, so sure to be a tactical affair, but Roger Varian’s Aimeric can come out on top. This Frankel gelding is an improved model this year, winning at Lingfield on his seasonal reappearance, before hitting the bar twice behind Charlie Appleby’s King Of Conquest here and at Newmarket. The useful Al Aasy is the main threat, but not always one to find much for pressure, so Andrew Balding’s Relentless Voyager may be the one to give the selection the most to think about, with Oisin Murphy in charge up top. Aimeric to score in a trappy opener

Coral Summer Handicap 2.25
Fairbanks
Andrew Balding’s Nathaniel gelding hasn’t reached his peak yet, judged on his latest run at Newmarket, and can score here returned to that same trip. He’s four from nine now on turf, and with Oisin Murphy in the saddle can be expected to be bang there coming into this fast finish at Goodwood. Charlie Johnston has inherited his father’s like for this meeting, so Align The Stars has to come into the reckoning, while Ian Williams’s Dancing In Paris also makes the shortlist, but Fairbanks appeals the most for this hot handicap

Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 3.00
Free Wind (nb)
It may pay to side with John & Thady Gosdens’ Free Wind for this Group 2 contest. With just the one start this term, a 6 length runner-up to the smart Bluestocking in the Middleton Filles’ Stakes at York in May, she’s sure to be well prepped for this, and that York form has since been well franked with Bluestocking taking the Group 1 Pretty Polly at The Curragh in June. The Golden Horn mare, Caius Chorister, rates the main danger, with further improvement not ruled out, but Free Wind gets our vote

Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) 3.35
Dark Trooper
James Doyle just ran out of track in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, when a fast finishing second to our selection Unequal Love, but can go one better here. He won’t be complaining about this fast ground, judging by that late surge in the Wokingham, and that could be just the ticket coming down the hill at Goodwood, as James Doyle burnishes his reputation as Wathnan Racing’s retained rider. Lethal Levi and Purosangue both look solid each-way angles, but Dark Trooper should relish this course, so gets the nudge

Whispering Angel Handicap 4.10
Mission To Moon
A pretty competitive handicap in store for this valuable prize on Glorious Goodwood’s final day, with Mission To Moon getting the tick. With a course and distance win getting this season’s campaign off to a winning start, followed up by two solid efforts at Epsom and in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, Mission To Moon looks a solid choice, with Jack Mitchell sure to give this US Navy Flag colt a proper stab at taking this out of Stall 4. Plenty with claims, not least Ralph Beckett’s Qirat and Andrew Balding’s Arctic Thunder, but Mission To Moon looks to be well drawn, and good value for the win

British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (Colts & Geldings) 4.45
Angelo Buonarroti
This Maiden is all about the Justify colt Angelo Buonarroti, who cost a seven figure sum at the breeze-ups. Now housed with Raphael Freire out of Dominic Ffrench Davis yard, there’s a swell of expectation around these Justify progenies, and this could be just the stage for this colt to shed the maiden tag. Last seen a close-up ninth in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Ascot’s Royal Meeting, these are far calmer waters, and he should be right in the mix, along with Ralph Beckett’s Consolidation, and Karl Burke’s Methgal. This completes the shortlist, with Angelo Buonarroti the pick of these from Stall 4

Coral We’re Here For It Handicap 5.20
Native Warrior
The closer can go to Karl Burke with Native Warrior. Another one in the Wathnan Racing silks with James Doyle in the saddle, Native Warrior showed enough in the closing stages of the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot to get picked for this. This Wootton Bassett colt had plenty of toe in the final furlong of that Ascot race, so this quick finish at Goodwood should be ideal. Owen Burrows’s Rowayeh and Charlie Johnston’s Dutch Decoy won’t be far away, but Native Warrior looks the one to follow

The Mandarin