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Glorious Goodwood 2010 |
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racing news /
American Challenger Starfish Bay One of 23 Entries for Audi King George Stakes 24/07/10
Day three of Glorious Goodwood, Thursday, July 29, offers the perfect blend of speed and stamina with the afternoon’s two feature contests being the £100,000 Group Two Audi King George Stakes (2.45pm) over five furlongs and the £100,000 Group Two Artemis Goodwood Cup (3.25pm) over two miles.
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The 23-strong entry for the Audi King George Stakes includes several high-class sprinters such as Fleeting Spirit, winner of the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket in 2009, and Borderlescott, who landed the Bluesquare.com Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood in 2006 and has taken the last two renewals of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes.
There is also the prospect of transatlantic representation in the five-furlong sprint via the Todd Pletcher-trained Starfish Bay, a four-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality who has recorded victories on turf at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park this year. The flying filly also set a new course record for five and a half furlongs at Monmouth Park in June, 2009. She is set to become the first American-trained runner at Goodwood and also the first British runner for her trainer.
Michael Hernon, Director of Sales at Kentucky-based Gainesway Thoroughbreds, owners of Starfish Bay, commented: “She will run for Todd at Goodwood and then we will evaluate where to go with her. She is in very good form at the moment and she is a very quick filly - we are hopeful she will give a very good account of herself.
“We have been thinking about sending over horses to Europe and this filly seemed a suitable candidate, so we decided to take a shot with her.”
Also among the Audi King George Stakes entries are the William Haggas-trained Triple Aspect, a Group Three winner over five furlongs at Sandown on July 3, Gilt Edged Girl from the Clive Cox stable and triumphant in a Group Three contest at Leopardstown on June 10, Richard Hannon’s consistent performer Elnawin and Reverence, a dual Group One winner in 2006 who has hinted at signs of a revival this term.
Thursday, July 29, also features the £70,000 Group Three Moet Hennessy Fillies’ Stakes (4.00pm) over a mile and three quarters for fillies and mares. Among the 20 entries is Meeznah, who went down by a neck to Snow Fairy in the Group One Epsom Oaks before finishing fourth to the same filly in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Other possible starters include Godolphin’s Flying Cloud, winner of the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Ship’s Biscuit, an impressive maiden winner at Goodwood in June and a half-sister to Hi Calypso, who landed this contest in 2007.
GOING
The going at Goodwood remains:
STRAIGHT COURSE: Good
ROUND COURSE: Good to Firm
Seamus Buckley, Goodwood’s Clerk of the Course, said: “We are watering to maintain the current conditions with GoingStick readings of 8.1 on the straight course, which is indicative of good ground, and 9.2 on the round course, which indicates a good to firm surface. I am delighted with the condition of the course.”
