Stewards’ Cup contenders and insights
The Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood is set to feature a maximum field of 28 horses competing over six furlongs. This race is considered one of the most challenging handicaps of the year.
Among the notable entries is Two Tribes, who secured a victory in this race last year. The horse also achieved a second-place finish in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot recently. Despite being a strong contender, Two Tribes faces a challenging draw in the upcoming race.
Another horse with a significant chance is Dark Thirty, a six-year-old gelding trained by John and Sean Quinn. This horse finished second in a sprint handicap at The Curragh. Trainer George Scott expressed satisfaction with West Acre, noting the horse has been off for a period but is well drawn.
Sondad, trained by Mick Easterby and David Easterby, has shown improvement this summer. Run Boy Run, owned by Phil Cunningham, finished fourth in this race last year before winning the Ayr Gold Cup. Trainer Richard Spencer noted that Run Boy Run had a challenging run on Tuesday but is now back to the fast six-furlong distance with George Wood taking over as jockey.
Key runners and trainer perspectives
Get It, a previous winner of this race, is another participant. The horse is described as having a fast start and will be running from stall 27. Trainer George Baker mentioned that Get It had a setback in the autumn, making its return to this race a significant challenge, but noted the horse enjoys fast ground.
Dubai Bling, trained by Hugo Palmer, is a smaller, more agile horse that prefers to come from behind. Palmer believes the horse is better suited to the six-furlong distance. Stratusnine, also trained by Hugo Palmer, is a large horse, and Palmer expressed some concern about how it will handle the downhill track at Goodwood.
Garfield Shadow, named after its sire, is considered a potential contender despite returning from a long break. Tuco Salamanca is a progressive four-year-old who has won two of its three starts this year, though all its improvements have been on all-weather tracks. Owner Owen Haly believes Tuco Salamanca has not yet reached its full potential, despite a preference for softer ground.
Mitbaahy has performed well in recent races, including the Wokingham and the Hackwood Stakes. James Owen, trainer of another contender, stated that his horse is of “Pattern class” and will travel well regardless of the pace.
In the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap, Hopewell Rock is considered a strong prospect, having finished third in the Boodles Handicap at Newmarket. Jockey Ryan Moore is set to ride Hopewell Rock in the race.
In the Coral Goodwood Handicap, Sea of Kings is a contender for the trainer/jockey combination of Harry Eustace and Saffie Osborne. Eustace had previously described Sea of Kings as a “work in progress” after its fourth-place finish at York last August in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap.
The Coral Stewards’ Cup is scheduled for tomorrow at 3.35 p.m. at Goodwood.
Source: racingpost.com
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”