Stradivarius, Baaeed are among stars at 'Glorious Goodwood'

If you’re a fan of England’s prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, then you’re advised to check out the five-day “Glorious Goodwood” festival taking place at Goodwood this week.

The stakes-packed racing action spans Tuesday through Saturday and includes a trio of high-profile Group 1 prizes. There’s a good chance we’ll see future Breeders’ Cup starters in action at Goodwood this week, so let’s check out the fields for the feature events.

Tuesday

Goodwood, England, Race 4: Group 1 Goodwood Cup (9:35 a.m. EDT)

Although its Breeders’ Cup implications might be minimal, the two-mile Goodwood Cup is arguably the sporting highlight of the Goodwood meet.

The Goodwood Cup is shaping up to be a thrilling three-way battle between legendary 8-year-old stayer Stradivarius and his younger rivals Kyprios and Trueshan.

Stradivarius needs no introduction; the John and Thady Gosden trainee won the Goodwood Cup every year from 2017 through 2020 before skipping the 2021 renewal. But Stradivarius’ form has slipped just a bit in recent starts; he lost both the Prix du Cadran (G1) and the British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) to Trueshan last fall, and he came home third against Kyprios in the Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot last month.

But perhaps Stradivarius can turn things around in the Goodwood Cup. He endured a troubled trip in the Gold Cup but nevertheless closed ground gamely to finish only 1 1/4 lengths behind Kyprios. Stradivarius is reuniting with jockey Andrea Atzeni, who rode the great chestnut to Goodwood Cup victories in 2017 and 2018, so don’t count Stradivarius out of win contention.

Wednesday

Goodwood, England, Race 4: Sussex (G1, 9:35 a.m.)

A terrific field is assembling for the Sussex, a prestigious one-mile test that could serve as a steppingstone toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Although final entries hadn’t been drawn at the time of writing, the Sussex is expected to feature the undefeated Baaeed, who is perfect in eight starts for trainer William Haggas. The son of Sea the Stars has rattled off four straight Group 1 triumphs and had little difficulty winning the important Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot by 1 3/4 lengths last month.

Baaeed is bound to be a heavy favorite in the Sussex, though he’s not the only high-profile runner in the prospective field. 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order of Australia kicked off 2022 with a third-place finish in the Queen Anne and is eligible to move forward in his second run of the season. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games also could fire a competitive shot while returning to the one-mile trip of his signature win in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) earlier this year.

But the biggest threat to Baaeed might be Coroebus, a flashy 3-year-old fresh off victories in the 2000 Guineas (G1) and St. James’s Palace (G1). The Godolphin homebred is progressing in the right direction for trainer Charlie Appleby and still has upside for his first try against older rivals.

July Cup (G1) winner Alcohol Free and Japanese raider Bathrat Leon (winner of the Godolphin Mile, G2, on dirt) are other possible entrants in this deep field.

Thursday

Goodwood, England, Race 4: Group 1 Nassau (9:35 a.m.)

Completing the Group 1 action at Goodwood is the 1 1/4-mile Nassau for fillies and mares, a logical steppingstone toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

As with the Sussex, final entries have yet to be drawn, though early betting points toward the lightly raced Nashwa as the runner to beat. The improving 3-year-old filly is 3-for-4 this season, with her lone miss being a third-place effort over 1 1/2 miles in the Cazoo Oaks (G1).

Nashwa appreciated cutting back to 1 5/16 miles for the Prix de Diane (G1) last month, in which she vied for command throughout before digging deep to win by a short neck. The daughter of Frankel looks like a good one for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Lilac Road, winner of the Middleton Fillies (G2) over 1 5/16 miles at York 2 1/2 months ago, is another runner drawing support in the early betting. Throw in Pretty Polly (G1) runner-up My Astra and Prix d’Ispahan (G1) heroine Dreamloper, and the Nassau is shaping up as a strong race if the prospective field holds together.