Glorious Goodwood certainly lived up to its reputation this week with a host of world-class performances, particularly that of Paddington in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes with a display which underlined the colt’s undoubted quality.
Paddington’s effort to win on soft ground under Ryan Moore against a small but select field confirmed Aidan O’Brien’s high opinion of the sublimely-bred three-year-old and drew a chorus of superlatives from seasoned racing observers.
Aidan used the term “special” to describe Paddington after the youngster posted his fourth successive Group 1 in a performance which was the highlight of the five-day meeting, which is a feature of our summer simulcast programme and allows Hong Kong racing fans to follow equine and human stars in key overseas races.
With so many big-race options available to connections, it will be fascinating to see what path Paddington takes over the next few months.
Aside from Paddington, the Group 1 victories of Quickthorn – a six-length winner of the Goodwood Cup – and Al Husn – a surprise winner of the Nassau Stakes – were both wonderful results for their connections.
It was also pleasing to watch the win of Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross in the Group 2 World Pool Lennox Stakes under Frankie Dettori, who is keen to potentially complete his farewell tour in Hong Kong at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) in December.
Owned by Marc Chan, Kinross could also be given the chance at Group 1 glory at LONGINES HKIR
More immediately, Matthew Chadwick has been given the opportunity to ride in the Shergar Cup at Ascot on 12 August following the unfortunate injury suffered by Vincent Ho in a race fall.
Matthew showed his class by winning the Silver Saddle in the 2012 Shergar Cup and, after another strong Hong Kong season, he will be keen to do his best to represent Hong Kong successfully.
In relation to Vincent, I want to thank the JRA for taking good care of him. We arranged a special flight from Japan to Hong Kong to bring him back for further medical treatment and monitoring. In my regularly exchanges with Vincent, it is good to see he has a real ‘can-do’ spirit which will help him to be back at his best after he can start training again.
While I wish Vincent a speedy recovery, I also look forward to Matthew, the 2021/22 Tony Cruz Award winner, taking part in the Shergar Cup.
Our simulcast programme continues with Prix Maurice de Gheest Day from Deauville on Sunday night. The Prix Maurice de Gheest is carded as S1-5 and will be run over 1300 metres on the straight course.
Art Power is proven on soft ground, relishing rain-affected conditions with a brilliant win in the G2 Sapphire Stakes (1000m) at The Curragh. Yet to win at Group 1 level, Art Power possesses tremendous acceleration and I make him my win and place selection for David Allan and Tim Easterby.
Cold Case is a consistent, lightly-raced sprinter, missing a place only once in nine starts, with all four of his wins coming over 1200m and 1300m. He appears well suited under Clifford Lee and is a place chance.
Spycatcher, who will be ridden by Maxime Guyon, handled soft conditions superbly to win the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis (1200m) last month and has proven remarkably consistent this season after being gelded. He is also a place chance.
In a race renowned for its demanding nature, especially with the expected soft track, King Gold, Fort Payne, Rohaan and Sandrine all have place claims.
My homebred horse Now We Know will be running in the Class 1 Grand Handicap de Deauville on the same day. The race is run over 1600m straight course and is scheduled as S1-3 of our simulcast programme.
Now We Know is the winner of this race two years ago and he likes the straight course in Deauville.
He has aimed at this race, which is very competitive, and according to my trainer Nicolas Clement, the horse is training well and with his regular jockey Stephane Pasquier taking the rein, I believe even he is not one of the favourites, he has a chance to be placed and may be can go even better to win this prestigious race.
Much of his chances will depend on the track bias which can be quite pronounced and be drawn in gate 13 may be even an advantageous to be close to the grandstand rail, but one has to see how the track plays out at the day.
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