Sunday, May 11, 2003

2003 SEASON AT GOODWOOD BEGINS IN FINE STYLE WITH MAY TRIALS MEETING

Run over a mile and three furlongs for the third time, the Letheby & Christopher is the final recognised trial for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs on June 7.

The Newmarket handler has his string in fine fettle at present, having already gained 20 winners this season and currently lies second in the Flat trainers table.

Lundy’s Lane, the three-year-old Darshaan colt, won twice on the all-weather surface at Lingfield earlier this year, came seventh in the UAE Derby, then was runner-up to Hurricane Alan in the Group Three Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes at Newmarket last month and returned to the same venue to compete in the season’s first classic, the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, on May 3 when he was disappointing in beating only one home.

Brittain believes that Lundy’s Lane can be forgiven this run: “He never got into the race - anything that was drawn out towards the middle of the track and went for a run there got into a lot of trouble. It was quite a rough race out there in the middle.”

One of Lundy’s Lane’s Lingfield successes came over 10 furlongs and Brittain has no worries about him getting the additional furlong at Goodwood.

“I’ve got him in the Derby so obviously I do think that he’ll stay,” he commented.

Brittain is likely to be well represented at Goodwood’s three-day May Trials Meeting: “I’ve got some fillies running now and I’ll know more in about a week’s time.”

Last season the Letheby & Christopher Predominate Stakes went to the Michael Jarvis-trained Coshocton, who proved two lengths too strong for favourite Dubai Destination. The winner went on to compete in the Epsom classic, running a great race in fourth before falling close home

Illustrious past winners include Troy, who was successful in 1979 before he going on to win the Derby, Pentire, successful in the 1996 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot having taken the previous season’s Predominate Stakes, and the brilliant Dubai Millennium, who won in 1999 before capturing four Group One contests for Godolphin including the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race, in 2000.

An exciting new initiative by Goodwood this year is that the racecourse will pay a sum equivalent to the entry fee to owners with runners who come under starter’s orders in all of the four Listed events held at the May Trials Meeting which takes place between Tuesday, May 20, and Thursday, May 22. The concession will also apply to all Goodwood Listed races at the June, August and September meetings.

This means that owners with runners will get back their entry fees for the £50,000 LETHEBY & CHRISTOPHER PREDOMINATE STAKES on Tuesday, May 20, the £35,000 CAFFREYS LUPE STAKES on Wednesday, May 21, and the £35,000 PETERS FAIRLINE FESTIVAL STAKES and the £35,000 SUNSEEKER EBF CONQUEROR STAKES on Thursday, May 22.

Prize money will exceed £3.5 million for the first time ever at Goodwood in 2003. This figure represents a £500,000 (18%) increase on that offered Goodwood Racecourse’s bicentenary year in 2002 and includes prize money totalling £1.82 million at Goodwood’s five-day Festival Meeting, which this year runs from Tuesday, July 29, to Saturday, August 2.

The exciting card on Tuesday, May 20, also features the £70,000 TOTE TRIFECTA HANDICAP (3.15pm) over a mile and one furlong for three-year-olds rated 0-105.

Passing Glance took this valuable handicap in 2002 for trainer Ian Balding, who has now handed over the reins at Kingsclere to his son Andrew.

Balding senior gained his first Goodwood winner in 1964 and, after Rimrod’s victory on September 13, finished with 100 career successes at the Sussex venue, including 29 obtained at the Festival Meeting. The gates open on Tuesday at 11.30am and the first race is at 2.10pm.

The CAFFREYS LUPE STAKES (2.40pm) is the highlight of the seven-race programme on Wednesday, May 21. The 10-furlong contest is a Vodafone Oaks trial named after Lupe, the 1970 Oaks heroine who returned to Epsom the following season to follow up in the Coronation Cup.

Last year’s winner Mellow Park, who came home 11 lengths ahead of Kootenay, was sixth to Godolphin’s Kazzia in the Oaks and she subsequently scored in the Group Three Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

The Henry Cecil-trained Love Divine completed a magnificent Lupe Stakes-Oaks double in 2000. She was four lengths too powerful for Spinning Top at Goodwood, before gaining a two-length advantage over her 16 rivals at Epsom.

The main supporting event on Wednesday is the £50,000 BONUSPRINT HANDICAP (3.15pm), over seven furlongs for three-year-olds rated 0-110.

Any runners from Richard Hannon’s powerful East Everleigh-based yard are worthy of consideration in this competitive event, especially if they are sent off favourite.

Since the inaugural running in 1999, favourites have taken all four renewals including Hannon’s Mayaro Bay in 1999 and Reel Buddy two seasons later. The gates open on Wednesday at 11.30am and the first race is at 2.10pm.

Thursday, May 22, features a seven-race card including the SUNSEEKER EBF CONQUEROR STAKES (1.45pm) over a mile and the PETERS FAIRLINE FESTIVAL STAKES (2.15pm) over one mile and two furlongs.

The final day of the May Trials Meeting is ‘Boating Comes to Goodwood Day,’ a marine industry promotion. In addition, it is ‘Over 65s Day’ - anyone aged over 65 will gain half-price admission to the Gordon Enclosure as well as receiving a free racecard and a refreshment voucher.

Last season’s Sunseeker EBF Conqueror Stakes winner Dolores, trained locally by Amanda Perrett, went on to finish third to Sophisticat in the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on her next start.

Newmarket trainer Henry Cecil does well in this event, having won three of the six runnings. He took the first running with Out West and followed up with Digitalize in 1998 and Corinium in 2000.

The Peters Fairline Festival Stakes is an event which has seen top-class horses. Ile De Bourbon in 1979 justified favouritism by four lengths, having won the previous year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot. Rainbow Quest was another worthy market leader in 1985 and he was subsequently successful in Europe’s top race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

More recently, Mubtaker won the Festival Stakes in 2001 for trainer Marcus Tregoning and the son of Silver Hawk went on to win a Group Two at Newbury last year. Last year’s scorer Imperial Dancer, trained by former footballer Mick Channon, has made his mark in Group company.

The gates open on Thursday at 11.30am and the first race is at 1.45pm.

Rod Fabricius, Clerk of the Course and General Manager at Goodwood, said today: “The May Meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 20, 21 and 22 begins the 2003 season at Goodwood which prides itself on providing the best facilities for racegoers and horses.”

Admission for each of the three days of the May Trials Meeting costs £20 for the Richmond Enclosure, £13 for the Gordon Enclosure and £6 (£4 for over 65s) for the Public Enclosure. There is FREE entry for children under 17 years accompanied by an adult in all enclosures. FREE parking is available with reserved parking available at just £3.

THE VALUE BETTING COLUMN - WHICH APPEARS EVERY SATURDAY ON THIS SITE EXCLUSIVELY - HAD ANOTHER WINNER YESTERDAY - 5/1 chance ROYAL STORM

COMPLETE LIST OF SELECTIONS SINCE THE START OF 2003

lingfield-racecourse.co.uk Handicap (Class B), (4yo+,0-105), 7f

BP = 5/1 Ladbrokes

2) (3) 40-0 Nashaab Ralph Beckett 6-9-07 Steve Drowne
Often ran well in decent handicaps last season without ever managing to his head in front. Still high in the handicap and last in the Victoria Cup on his seasonal reappearance when drawn high. Capable of better.

BP = 14/1 Ladbrokes, Tote, William Hill & Coral

3) (7) 5-80 Point Of Dispute Peter Makin 8-9-05v Seb Sanders
Lightly-raced considering he is an eight-year-old. His two runs this season have been better than his form figures might suggest (bumped in the Victoria Cup last time). Still high enough in the weights but has won here before and could go well at a big price.

BP = 14/1 Coral

4) (6) -268 Marshman Mark Tompkins 4-8-13 Darryll Holland
Hails from an in-form stable and has won here on the Polytrack all-weather in the past. His consistency means that his handicap mark remains fairly high but he should be thereabouts once again.

BP = 4/1 Ladbrokes, Coral & William Hill

5) (4) 4-14 Najeebon Mick Channon 4-8-11v1 Chris Catlin
The least exposed member of the field. Won over six furlongs this and last season and it looked as if a step up to seven would suit when he finished strongly at Windsor last time. Tends to come late which is not always the best on this downhill course.

BP = 7/2 Tote

6) (1) 3602 Royal Storm Amanda Perrett 4-8-10 Richard Hughes
Stable could not be in better form and this one showed good form last season with wins at Sandown and Goodwood. Showed signs that he may be coming back to his best last time out at Warwick. Likes a downhill track like this, leads or is up with the pace and the only worry is his number one draw but he should be able to get across to the stands’ rails in this small field
BP =11/2 Coral

7) (2) 4333 Taranaki Peter Cundell 5-8-05 David Kinsella (3)
Won the ladies handicap on Diamond Day at Ascot last season and showed that he was back to his best with a very good run to finish third in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last time. However, he looks an opposable favourite on the balance of his form.

BP = 100/30 Tote

SUMMARY
A tight, little handicap with it being virtually impossible to discount any of the field. ROYAL STORM is the value as he comes from the red-hot Amanda Perrett yard, likes this sort of track and remains open to some improvement.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews 2002
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services