Looking at the top contenders for the Sussex Stakes at the upcoming Goodwood meeting. (Photo credit: © Martin Applegate | Dreamstime.com)
Without Parole made a statement at Royal Ascot, making him the horse to beat when the leading contenders over a mile compete at Glorious Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes. John Gosden has only won the event once in his distinguished career, but he has the opportunity to add a second crown to his collection at Goodwood given the quality to the bay colt.
Beat the Bank and Gustav Klimt will be among the horses aiming to disrupt Without Parole’s success. The 2018 flat season has been far from predictable as the form book has been thrown out of the window. Andrew Balding’s Beat the Bank could be an intriguing option given that Here Comes When triumphed at Goodwood in the event last season. Aidan O’Brien always has a horse in his stables capable of winning any flat race and the Sussex Stakes will be no exception with Gustav Klimt.
As a result of the quality of the horses involved in the race, monitoring odds will be a crucial factor to get the value. Without Parole’s victory at the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot was not by a huge margin, therefore it would be worth tracking the form of his rivals in the nap of the day before the race meet begins at Goodwood. We’ll now break down their recent form to give you a better idea of what to expect when the action commences.
Without Parole
Gosden’s charge only made his debut at the end of 2017 at Newcastle in the Novice Stakes. He displayed his dominance with a resounding victory by six lengths ahead of his nearest rival. Without Parole returned to action for the start of the new campaign at the Centre of Norwich Novice Stakes. The bay colt was considered one of the favourites for the event and once again duly delivered on his reputation with another dominant performance. With Frankie Dettori in the saddle, the three-year-old winning the event by six lengths ahead of Ostilio.
Without Parole is a leading contender for the Sussex Stakes (Source: GOWEquine via Twitter).
Without Parole had momentum ahead of his first major race at Sandown Park. Dettori ensured that his charge at the pace at the vital moment of the meet, pulling away from Gabr down the stretch to claim the win by half-a-length. Due to his performance in his maiden Class One outing, all eyes were on Gosden’s charge at Royal Ascot as he battled experienced competitors for the St James’s Palace Stakes. He made a steady start to the race, tracking the early leaders, settling into a position in the middle of the field. Dettori made the move as Without Parole upped the ante two furlongs out and he was able to take an outright lead into the stretch, seeing out the victory by half-a-length ahead of Gustav Klimt.
Gustav Klimt
The Irish horse has been on the scene since last year and has been a formidable contender. He made his major breakthrough at the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket when Ryan Moore guided his charge to a fine performance to beat out his compatriot by a head to take the crown. Gustav Klimt maintained his winning formula for the start of the 2018 campaign. He was considered the favourite for the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Leopardstown, pulling away from his rivals down the final stretch of the race to win by one-and-a-half lengths.
However, he could not match his performance at Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas as he was well off the pace with Seamie Heffernan in the saddle, finishing in sixth place as his stable-mate Saxon Warrior won the event. Gustav Klimt staged a minor improvement at the Irish 2,000 Guineas, although it was still not enough to clinch a victory as he placed in third behind Romanised and US Navy Flag. At Royal Ascot, Donnacha O’Brien and Gustav Klimt put forward an excellent performance, only to be upstaged by Without Parole, who just had the extra kick of pace at the vital moment. His last outing was another underwhelming display, placing third in the Qatar Prix Jean Prat Prat Group 1 Stakes. He has not been at his best this term, although there is a quality competitor in there should he find his best form.
Beat The Bank
Balding’s charge could be a contender coming in as a slight outsider for the event. He has more experience than his rivals and that could stand him in
Beat The Bank was outstanding at the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot earlier this month. (Source: HorseRacingUK via Twitter)
good stead at the Sussex Stakes. Last season he recorded three victories in Class One outings – the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, the Shadwell Joel Stakes and notably, the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. However, he ended the 2017 season with a poor performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, placing in tenth.
Beat The Bank returned for the 2018 campaign at Newmarket in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes. Once again he failed to rise to the occasion, finishing down in 12th out of 14 competitors. The four-year-old made a slight improvement at Royal Ascot, putting forward a decent showing at the Queen Anne Stakes with a sixth-place finish. With Oisin Murphy in the saddle, Beat The Bank was outstanding at the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot earlier in the month, beating out his nearest rival down the stretch by a neck. He has talent and form at Goodwood, but whether it will be enough is another matter.
