The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 5th August 2023

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Goodwood, Galway & Deauville

Goodwood

Coral Summer Handicap 2.25
Sweet William
John & Thady Gosden’s Sea The Stars gelding lines up here on a hat-trick after wins at Doncaster & Newbury. The blinkers have had a positive effect, so despite the Handicapper’s attentions, Sweet William should justify favouritism here. Unexposed, and if coping with the extra cut in the ground, should be thereabouts

Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies’ & Mares’) 3.00
River Of Stars (nap)
It may pay to side with Ralph Beckett’s River Of Stars for this Group 2 contest, given the conditions and the hot form of the trainer. She did all but win the Prix Maurice de Nieuil at ParisLongchamp last time out, just failing to reel in The Good Man in that Group 2. This Sea The Stars filly has returned a better model this year, having already landed the Bronte Cup at York, and hasn’t reached her limits yet

Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) 3.35
Orazio (nb)
Charlie Hills has a good one in his yard with Orazio, who has already scored at Newmarket and Ascot this term. Both his wins came on ground with plenty of cut in it, so conditions should be ideal here. The Caravaggio colt found the going too fast in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, but still finished a respectable sixth of twenty-seven in that hot race, and can get back on to the winning trail here. Jim Crowley takes up the reins, and he’s already plundered a big prize this week on this track

Racing Welfare Handicap 4.10
Urban Sprawl
Charlie Johnston’s course winner returns form a short break and can go well again back at Goodwood. His third in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot was a fine performance behind the useful Docklands, and he should cope on this slower ground just fine. Reliable and tough, Urban Sprawl can get into the mix once more

Coral Handicap 5.20
Mostawaa
Heather Main’s Poet’s Voice gelding seems to have found a new lease of life this season, racking up a summer hat-trick, and now lines up in search of a four-timer. His last run at Carlisle showed he’s lost none of his enthusiasm for racing despite heading into the veterans’ stage. Hard to ignore in his current mood, and solid each way claims at the least

Galway

BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2.30
Thecompanysergeant
Denis Hogan’s gelding has made a bright start over timber, having tasted success in National Hunt Bumpers, and can get Black Type into the form book here. He’s not been seen since finishing runner-up to Nick Rockett in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse back in April, but goes well fresh and has run well here before. Willie Mullins has an army going to post, with Finest Evermore the big danger but Thecompanysergeant gets 11lbs from that rival, which may be telling

Deauville

Prix de Reux (Group 3) 4.35
True Testament
This Group 3 contest looks a straight showdown between Christophe Ferland’s Big Call and Andre Fabre’s True Testament. The preference is for True Testament, who is at his ideal trip of 12 furlongs. Big Call was last seen in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, where he only beat one home on ground patently too quick. However, he’s been campaigning at 15 furlongs or more this season, and may find this drop back in trip on the sharp side. That said, True Testament needs to step forward from his third in the Group 2 Prix Neil at the back end of last season. He’s been off the track for nigh on 11 months, but goes well fresh, and can lead Big Call home

The Mandarin