The Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Photo credit: Goodwood Racecourse).
The Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, July 31 is one of the win-and-you’re-in races for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at the 2019 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in California.
Automatic entries to the world-famous two-day meeting in November that traditionally moves venues around the USA each year are highly coveted and sought after. The mile division is as competitive as ever, with thoroughbreds from all over the globe already punching their tickets to Santa Anita with Group 1 victories. Which horses are targeting Goodwood glory and a possible transatlantic trip to the Breeders’ Cup towards the end of the campaign this season? Here, we take a look at four Sussex Stakes hopefuls.
King Of Comedy
Newmarket trainer John Gosden has a strong hand for the Sussex Stakes. Lightly-raced Kingman colt King Of Comedy (IRE) has never finished out of the first two in five career starts and ran a huge race on his first Group 1 start when a fast-finishing neck runner-up in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. There is plenty of scope for King Of Comedy to improve on that at Goodwood. That is why he’s a market leader for the race and considered among the horse racing tips from Betfair on the Sussex.
Too Darn Hot
Gosden stable companion Too Darn Hot (GB) was the European champion juvenile colt last season, but has taken time to follow-up on that stellar campaign this year. After losing his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Dante Stakes which stretched his stamina, he was second in the Irish 2000 Guineas after a very swift turnaround. Too Darn Hot was then a length third in the St James’s Palace but has since won a Group 1 in France over seven furlongs. Will he truly stay a mile? He should and at Goodwood, it’s easier to get the trip than other tracks.
Lord Glitters
‘I think he’s the best miler around at the moment and I have high hopes he can prove that’
Don’t miss a fantastic stable tour with David O’Meara in Wednesday’s @RPWeekender as he outlines plans for Lord Glitters and the rest of his in-form team pic.twitter.com/sGBLhY4Gbc
— Weekender (@RPWeekender) 8 July 2019
The David O’Meara grey Whipper gelding Lord Glitters (FR) has already qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Mile with victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was a deserved Group 1 success for the six-year-old and Glorious Goodwood is the next logical step. Unlike many of his younger rivals, Lord Glitters is no stranger to international missions and he was previously trained in France. With the form of his Queen Anne victory franked by the ill-fated runner-up, there’s life in this relative veteran yet.
Phoenix Of Spain
Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain (IRE) is another three-year-old with a big future. Backing up that victorious return to action proved beyond the Lope De Vega colt at Royal Ascot but a longer break between that and Glorious Goodwood is an advantage. Both of Phoenix Of Spain’s career wins on turf, including that Classic triumph, have come on fast ground. That surface may not be essential but is obviously a plus, and he’s sure to give a better account of himself for trainer Charlie Hills than when sixth in the St James’s Palace in the Sussex.
