UK- Goodwood 7/28
Jul 27, 2020 22:48:55 GMT -5
Post by tenfurlongs on Jul 27, 2020 22:48:55 GMT -5
Opening day of the five days of Glorious Goodwood! Today's feature is the Goodwood Cup (GI) at 2 mi. featuring the sensational stayer Stradivarius.
GOING: GOOD, Good to soft in places (GoingStick: 6.8) (Partly cloudy)
Goodwood 8:10- 1m British EBF Fillies' Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+) (0-95) field of 12.
#4- Angel Power (7-2) is a lightly-raced 3yo daughter of Lope de Vega that has progressed rapidly, getting necked for the win in a solid Class 3 handicap last out. Varian (18%)/De Sousa (24%) are a formidable team. #9- Tomorrow's Dream (5-1) 3yo filly took readily to the turf after three AW tries over the winter. Good second in a Class 2 last time at Newbury. Should make another forward move today.
EX- 4,9/2,3,4,8,9 Result- 9,4,12 Exacta $37.40 Tomorrow's Dream ($9.20)looks like one to follow after today's victory. She was always traveling like a winner and ran strongly through the line. Angel Power barely held on for second, she needs to learn to relax a bit early in a race.
Goodwood 8:45- 1m2f Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) field of 18.
#3- Fifth Position (7-1) has progressed smoothly through nine career starts. Last was a third in a rich Heritage Handicap at York ten days ago. Regular rider Atzeni is back aboard for trainer Roger Varian. #5- Tinandali (10-1) was fifth behind Fifth Position in that York race, has handled his progression in three starts in 2020, primed for his best effort. Deep field.
EX- 3,5/1,3,4,5,9,10 Result- 16,2,4 Maydanny ($11.60) went off favored in the end and the money was well meant, as he crushed the field after burning a lot of cash in his last two. Sky Defender (36-1) ran on well for second, proving his very poor effort last time was a one-off. Exacta came back $143.60 for a buck.
Goodwood 9:15- 7f Vintage Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) field of 10.
#3- Devious Company (9-2) won his first two, then was second to Master Of The Seas, who took the GII Superlative S. at Newmarket like a Godolphin colt with an unlimited future. All the money will go to #1- Battleground (Even) for A. O'Brien/Moore off his facile win at Royal Ascot in the Chesham S., but that was over softer ground.
EX- 3/1,2,6,8 Result- 1,3,10 Thought that Devious Company had gotten the jump on favored Battleground ($3.80), but in the end the Ballydoyle runner proved to be too good as he gradually pulled ahead. {edit: somehow the exacta paid $16.60, basically turning a 4-5 shot into a 7-1. Wish I'd looked at that...}
Goodwood 9:45- 7f Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) field of 11.
Top to bottom the best field on the card. #10- Safe Voyage (9-2) has been ultra-consistent the last two seasons, and he's a 7F specialist. Second, then first, in two Listed stakes this year. Bang there at the line. #12- Space Blues (3-1) 4yo sports an 11/5-3-1 record, with two GI-placings last term, and a GIII win in his second start of 2020 at Longchamp. Godolphin product reunites with Mr. Buick today. #7- Grainges (30-1) caught my eye. Changed barns after his 3yo season, and ran last in the rich dirt sprint on the Saudi Cup card. Had a wind operation in May to correct a breathing issue. Although he didn't score a victory, his 3yo season in France was top level, with two GIII-placings and two solid GI efforts against Romanised and One Master. He was ready to roll in his 2019 debut, could run very well at a huge price.
EX- 10,12/4,5,7,10,11,12 WP- 7 Result- 12,5,6 Exacta $30.00 Space Blues ($4.40) put a serious lashing on a fine group of horses, with Buick looking back for challengers in the final 100 yards, and finding none. Grainges (53-1) was off a bit slowly, could never find a seam until the rest had started their runs, but was only beaten 5 lengths or so. Bet back.
Goodwood 10:15- 2m Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) field of 7. #5- Stradivarius (1-2) is all-world as a stayer, looks for a fourth Goodwood Cup today. His demolition of the Ascot Gold Cup field over very soft ground was breathtaking, a repeat would make him hard to conquer. It seems that 3yo #7- Santiago (2-1), the Queen's Vase and Irish Derby winner, is highly fancied as a challenger, but I'm not sold on that idea. He only took the Derby by a head from Tiger Moth, so it may not have been a vintage group. I'd much rather sail with #3- Nayef Road (12-1) a 4yo proven high-class stayer, and #4- Spanish Mission (15-1) a rapidly improving 4yo who was just a length behind Dashing Willoughby in a GIII two-miler last time at Sandown.
WEIGHTED EX- 5/1 $2 5/4 $4 5/3 $10 Result- 5,3,7 Exacta $79.00 Frankie Dettori almost always has his horse in the right spot, but he nearly got him beat today after getting lapped on multiple times on the inside down the stretch. Thankfully for him, Eagles By Day gave up the ghost late, allowing Stradivarius to get out and nip Nayef Road in the shadow of the wire. Gutsy effort by the runner-up, he improved once again today and looks to be versatile enough to do 12F-16F at the highest level. Santiago, as Doc likes to say, was who I thought he was, a nice 3yo which won a sub-par Derby, and who will be better suited by 12F- 14F. I'd still like to own him...lol.
TW