SOUVIENS TOI EXCITES BOTTI AHEAD OF GOODWOOD DEBUT

- TOP-CLASS STARSCOPE HAS GOODWOOD OPTION

Italian import Souviens Toi will make her British debut for Newmarket handler Marco Bottiin the £40,000 Listed Betfred The Bonus King EBF Daisy Warwick Stakes (2.20pm) over a mile and a half at Goodwood on Opening Saturday, May 4.

The four-year-old daughter of Dalakhani won three of her six starts in Italy for Botti's cousin, Endo, and capped last season with victory in a Listed event over 10 furlongs at Capanelle in November.

Botti said: "The plan is to run Souviens Toi in the Betfred The Bonus King EBF Daisy Warwick Stakes.

"She has settled in fine and has been training well. Obviously, she won a Listed race in Italy last season and, from what she is showing us at home, she is going to be a stakes filly here as well.

"She should get the trip and is ready to run but the course at Goodwood is a bit of an unknown because horses in Italy are used to running on flat tracks. They are not familiar with the undulations and it can take them one or two races to get used to that.

"When she won her Listed race the ground was heavy but I don't think quicker conditions will be an issue. I think she will handle any ground."

The 12 entries for the Betfred The Bonus King EBF Daisy Warwick Stakes also include high-class performers Shirocco Star and Coquet, both from the stable of Hughie Morrison. The pair finished second and sixth respectively in last season's Investec Oaks and the latter has already shown a liking for the course when taking the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood's May Festival last year.

Other notable entries include Jehannedarc, runner-up in the Group Three Blackrock Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood in August last year, who could have her first start for Ed Dunlop since moving from French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, and Yarmouth Listed scorer Semayyel.

Saturday's card also features the £40,000 Listed Betfred Mobile Casino British Stallion Studs EBF Conqueror Stakes (4.05pm), for which 16 fillies have been entered. The headline act is Starscope from the stable of John Gosden, who filled the runner-up spot in last season's QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Chris Richardson, managing director for owner/breeder Cheveley Park Stud, said: "We have got Starscope in the Betfred Mobile Casino British Stallion Studs EBF Conqueror Stakes and the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. I have not spoken to the owner or trainer yet and nothing has been decided about where she runs but I would imagine it will be ground dependent.

"She looks to have done really well over the winter and I am very pleased with her but she is quirky and we hope, with another winter under her belt, she will be more mature mentally.

"She had a strong campaign in the early part of last season and, because the decision was made to keep her in training, we decided to give her a break after her run in July.

"I think she does prefer a little bit of ease in the ground. All this comes early enough in the year but she is in good form."

Other notable contenders include Ralph Beckett's Group Three scorer Moonstone Magic and the William Haggas-trained pair of Sentaril and Arsaadi, who were both placed in Group company last year.

Last year's Betfred Mile second Mabait is among 21 entries for the seven-furlong £30,000 Betfred Mobile Lotto Handicap (2.55pm), along with Glorious Goodwood winner The Confessor, who was a close third in the Betfair Summer Double Second Leg Heritage Handicap at the August Bank Holiday Weekend at Goodwood.

Sprinters get their chance to shine in the £15,000 Betfred Mobile Sports Handicap (3.30pm) over the minimum distance of five furlongs and the 13 entries include Captain Carey, successful in a valuable handicap at the Curragh in Ireland in 2011, and the well-bred Duke Of Firenze.

Racing starts at 1.50pm with the £6,000 Betfred TV EBF Maiden Stakes, which has attracted 12 juveniles including a quartet from the powerful stable of Richard Hannon - Expert, Thunder Strike, A Childs Dream and Suite.

The action is completed by the £5,000 Betfred 'Still Treble Odds On Lucky's' Median Auction Maiden Stakes (4.40pm, 13 entries) and the £5,000 Collect Totepool Bets At Betfred Shops Handicap (5.15pm, 34 entries).

GOING

The going at Goodwood remains:

GOOD, GOOD TO FIRM IN PLACES (on Round Course)

Goodwood's Clerk of the Course, Seamus Buckley, reported today: "It was dry overnight and into today. We are selectively watering to maintain conditions.

"There is a chance of some light rain on Friday."