Trainer Luca Cumani is
eyeing a quick return for Afsare in the Group Two Betfair Celebration
Mile (3.30pm) on the second day of Goodwood's August Bank Holiday meeting,
Saturday, August 24, 2013.
The six-year-old is among
14 confirmations for the £100,000 contest after an effortless six-length
success in the Group Three Sovereign Stake over a mile at Salisbury on August
15.
It was his first start
over the trip since he captured a Newmarket maiden in May, 2010, but the son of
Dubawi has proved himself a top-class performer over longer trips, including
when an unlucky second in the Arlington Million over 10 furlongs last year.
Cumani reported on Monday:
"Afsare has come out of Salisbury in good form and is likely to run in the
Betfair Celebration Mile.
"We had been thinking
about running him over a mile for a good while, but unfortunately he refused to
go into the stalls at Ascot for the Summer Mile (July 13).
"Luckily, he went
into the stalls at Salisbury and it was a good performance.
"The track at
Goodwood will be no problem and I will be happy if he runs another nice
race."
The 14 confirmations
include the David Simcock-trained Trade Storm, who will carry a 3lb
penalty, last year's winner Premio Loco and Markel Insurance Nassau
Stakes runner-up Thistle Bird.
Also among those going
forward is the Aidan O'Brien-trained trio of Most Improved, the
impressive winner of last season's St James's Palace Stakes, Jersey Stakes
scorer Gale Force Ten and QIPCO 2000 Guineas fifth Cristoforo Columbo.
Saturday's seven-race card
at Goodwood gets underway with the £40,000 Whiteley Clinic Prestige Stakes
(2.20pm) over seven furlongs.
The two-year-old contest,
in which subsequent triple Group One winner Sky Lantern finished second last
year, has attracted 10 contenders headed by course and distance scorer Amazing
Maria, Richard Hannon's Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes runner-up Midnite
Angel and impressive maiden winner Valen.
Goodwood's Bank Holiday
meeting concludes on Sunday, August 25, when the £60,000 Group Three Greene
King Supreme Stakes takes centre stage. A total of 20 horses have been entered
for the seven-furlong contest, headlined by Group Two winner Penitent
and impressive Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes victor Montiridge.
Going
The going at Goodwood is
currently Good.
Clerk of the Course Seamus
Buckley said today: "The course has recovered well since the Glorious
meeting and is in excellent condition.
"We had 10
millimetres of rain over the weekend and going is currently good. The forecast
for the rest of the week is for drier and warmer conditions."
August
Bank Holiday Weekend At Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse stages
a 1950s-themed August Bank Holiday weekend, rekindling the nostalgic Summer
Holidays of yesteryear. The meeting will showcase a typical 1950s holiday scene
complete with its own fully functioning beach, a vintage fish & chip shop
and an array of activities for both youngsters and adults.
There will be a fab choice
of traditional entertainment on offer ranging from pony racing and a funfair to
Lego education and live music. These are ideal family days out with so much to
enjoy for all ages, not forgetting plenty of top racing action across all three
days including the weekend's highlight, the Betfair Celebration Mile, on
Saturday.
Accompanied youngsters
under 18 years of age are admitted free to all enclosures over the August Bank
Holiday Weekend at Goodwood.
The racing starts late on
the afternoon of Friday, August 23 - the perfect way to end the week. Friday
evening's meeting offers racegoers the chance enjoy six races before jiving,
moving and dancing to live, hip-shaking music by the Class of 58 Rock n' Roll
band. The gates open at 3.30pm.
Racing resumes at 2.20pm
on Saturday, August 24 with the Group Three Whiteley Clinic Prestige Stakes and
that day's magnificent seven-race programme continues until 5.50pm when the
Chichester City Handicap brings the action to a close. The gates open at
11.30am.
The Sunday (August 25) is
the ideal opportunity to get together with friends and family to enjoy heaps of
excitement at the racecourse. The seven-race card commences at 2.10pm and ends
at 5.30pm. The seven-furlong Greene King Supreme Stakes, worth £60,000, is the
feature race at 4.30pm. The gates open at 11.30am.
Children's entertainment
will be plentiful throughout the weekend with a funfair; complete with a Helter
Skelter, Wall of Mirrors and a Carousel on offer for youngsters to enjoy as
well as a Lego education centre which teaches children a range of skills in an
engaging and fun environment, face painting, storytelling, sports games and
Invisible cricket. Live music will fill the racecourse with the Kaleidoscope
String Quartet taking to the stage in the Richmond Enclosure and The Howard
Clarke Jazz Band providing music on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the
East Parade Lawn. With such a variety of entertainment available, Goodwood
Racecourse is the ultimate family day this August Bank Holiday.
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