Cover image courtesy of Goodwood
Race 2, G3 Oak Tree S. - 1400m, 11.25pm AEST (2.25pm local)
Prizemoney: £80,000 (AU$138,500)
This Group 2 for fillies and mares has been won by some seriously talented types in the past, including William Haggas’ star mare One Master (Fastnet Rock) in 2020, while in 2009 it went the way of Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab {USA}) and she is now better known as the dam of multiple Group 1-winning champion Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
After a couple of Listed wins under her belt, including most recently in the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' S. at Chelmsford, the Charlie Appleby-trained Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be hoping to snare her first win at Group level when she tackles the G3 Oak Tree S. on Wednesday.
Soft Whisper struggled in her three starts in Meydan at the beginning of the year, but she has landed her only two starts in England this season and if she can carry on on that upward trajectory she could prove hard to beat.
Trainer Richard Hannon won the Group 3 in 2019 with G1 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and on Wednesday he will saddle Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in this year’s renewal. The 3-year-old filly landed her first two starts this season, including the Sandringham S. at Royal Ascot.
However, she comes into the race off the back of a last-start third in the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown, beaten that day by Grande Dame (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), with the latter also set to line up in the Group 3.
Race 3, G3 Molecomb S. - 1000m, 12am AEST (3pm local)
Prizemoney: £75,000 (AU$129,800)
Ballyhane Stud-based resident Dandy Man (Ire) is one of the most underrated sires in the Northern Hemisphere and on Wednesday the stallion’s son Rocket Rodney (GB) could hand him another good result when he tackles the G3 Molecomb S.
Trained by Newmarket-based trainer George Scott, the 2-year-old gelding has never failed to place in his four career starts, with his most high-profile win coming on his most recent start in the Listed Dragon S. at Sandown.
The David Loughnane-trained Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) finished second behind The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau) in a controversial running of the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot.
After the race, in which The Ridler drifted across the track impeding the chances of many runners, including Walbank, Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing was very vocal about the fact he believed the winner should have been thrown out, so he will be hoping his runner can have better luck this time round.
Race 4, G1 Sussex S. - 1600m, 12.35pm AEST (3.35pm local)
Prizemoney: £1,000,000 (AU$1,730,800)
The G1 Sussex S. roll of honour includes the names of some of the biggest stars of the past, including the great Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) who landed back-to-back renewals of the Group 1 in 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile, Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (Ire) won it in 2013, while the following year it was won by the now top-class sire Kingman (GB). More recently, the race has been taken out by Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB) and Shadwell star Mohaather (GB).
The unbeaten Baaeed (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will make his reappearance in the Group 1, having not been seen since his G1 Queen Anne S. victory at Royal Ascot and he looks a pretty safe bet to keep his unbeaten record intact on Wednesday. The race was dealt a blow earlier in the week when G1 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was ruled out after being found to have an abscess in a pastern.
However, last-start G1 July Cup winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) will take her chance in Wednesday’s Group 1 and she will have to produce the performance of her life to turn the tables on Baaeed, who had the measure of her when he defeated her in the G1 Lockinge S. earlier in the season.
Chindit, a son of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB), also takes his chance and he will come into the race fresh off the back of a victory in the G2 Summer Mile S. at Ascot, having been beaten by Baaeed in his previous two appearances. While his chances of finally getting the better of the William Haggas-trained superstar this time round looks remote, it would not be a surprise to see him run well once again.
