Glorious Goodwood: Big guns still in Qatar Sussex Stakes

They headline 21 remaining entries for the brilliant mile contest following Group One victories at Royal Ascot last month.

Gleneagles (Aidan O’Brien IRE) added wins in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas with an easy success in the St James’s Palace Stakes, while five-year-old Solow (Freddy Head FR) notched up his seventh consecutive victory in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Also among the acceptors for the Qatar Sussex Stakes is the Richard Hannon-trained pair of Night Of Thunder and Toormore, who were first and second in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May.

The champion trainer has also confirmed dual Group Two scorers Estidhkaar and Ivawood among a five-strong team which is completed by Moheet.

Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien also has five possible starters, with Gleneagles joined by Queen Anne Stakes third Cougar Mountain, Due Diligence, Father Frost and fellow Royal Ascot scorer War Envoy.

Other notable acceptors include the Charlie Hills-trained pair of Cable Bay and Dutch Connection, winner of the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, plus impressive Group Three winner Arod (Peter Chapple-Hyam).

Two female entries are dual Group One winner Integral (Sir Michael Stoute), who needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot, and QIPCO 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lucida (Jim Bolger IRE).

Qatar King George Stakes (Friday, July 31)

Last year’s winner Take Cover is among 32 acceptors for the £300,000 Group Two Qatar King George Stakes over five furlongs.

The David Griffiths-trained eight-year-old is on course to defend his crown after coming home sixth behind Goldream in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Griffiths said: “Take Cover is bouncing and has come out of Ascot really well. It is just coming to his time of year now as he loves really fast ground.

“He will go to York on Saturday for the Listed City Walls Stakes, which he won last year. He has not got his Group Two penalty and, all being well, he will go on to Glorious Goodwood after that.

“I think the five furlongs at Ascot up the hill just stretches him a little bit, especially with his style of running. He ran a super race at Royal Ascot but the real fast five furlongs at Goodwood plays to his strengths.”

King’s Stand Stakes third Muthmir (William Haggas) also features, as does last season’s Prix de l’Abbaye hero Move In Time (David O’Meara) and the flying fillies Anthem Alexander (Edward Lynam) and Mecca’s Angel (Michael Dods).

The evergreen Kingsgate Native (Robert Cowell), who took the spoils in 2009, could have his fifth start in Qatar King George Stakes and his sixth at Glorious Goodwood.

Qatar Nassau Stakes (Saturday, August 1)

QIPCO 1,000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo (David Wachman IRE) and French Oaks scorer Star Of Seville (John Gosden) feature among 29 acceptors for the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes over 10 furlongs.

Other notables include the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair of Diamondsandrubies, successful in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 28 and Investec Oaks heroine Qualify, plus the Ribblesdale Stakes one-two Curvy (David Wachman IRE) and Pleascach (Jim Bolger IRE).

Qatar Goodwood Cup (Thursday, July 30)

The first and second from the Ascot Gold Cup, Trip To Paris (Ed Dunlop) and Kingfisher (Aidan O’Brien IRE), lead the way among 28 going forward for the £300,000 Qatar Goodwood Cup over two miles.

Aidan O’Brien has also confirmed some interesting three-year-olds, notably Archangel Raphael and Order Of St George, while local trainer Amanda Perret may run recent Sandown winner Eye Of The Storm.