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Qawaasem set for Prestige
A high-class field of
eight will go to post for the £100,000 Group Two Betfair Celebration Mile
(3.30pm) on the second day of the Goodwood's August Bank Holiday meeting,
Saturday, August 24.
The line up is headed by
the David Simcock-trained Trade Storm, who will carry a 3lb penalty for
a Group Two success in Dubai this spring, and recent Group Three Sovereign
Stakes scorer Afsare.
Premio Loco and Thistle Bird,
who finished first and second last year for Chris Wall and Roger Charlton
respectively, lock horns again, while Godolphin is chasing a fifth Celebration
Mile with last season's Group One Prix Jean Prat hero Aesop's Fables.
Group Two scorer Shamalgan,
representing French handler Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, Listed victor Stipulate
and the Ismail Mohammed-trained Educate complete the octet.
Celebration Mile - Betfair
Sportsbook: 3/1 Afsare, 7/2 Trade Storm, 5/1 Thistle Bird, 7/1 Stipulate, 9/1
Premio Loco, 10/1 Aesop's Fables, 10/1 Shamalgan, 12/1 Educate *Each Way
1/5 Odds first 3 places
Betfair Spokesman Barry
Orr commented today: "Afsare got his act together last time out and looked
really good in doing so and has been popular at the 3/1 mark."
Timeform Ratings
(weight-adjusted) - 136 AFSARE, 133 THISTLE BIRD, 132 PREMIO LOCO, 131 TRADE STORM,
129 AESOP'S FABLES, 128 SHAMALGAN, 127 STIPULATE, 124 EDUCATE
The seven-race card gets
underway at 2.20pm with the £40,000 Group Three Whiteley Clinic Prestige Stakes
over seven furlongs. The eight contenders include impressive six-length course
and distance scorer Amazing Maria, and Group Three runner-up Midnite
Angel.
Qawaasem also brings Stakes form
to the table having been a close second to Majeyda in the Listed Star Stakes
over seven furlongs at Sandown on July 25. The daughter of Shamardal had
previously beaten a subsequent winner in a six-furlong Newmarket maiden on July
11.
Angus Gold, racing manager
for her owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "It was a good run by Qawaasem at
Sandown last time. I thought she was going to win and was either beaten by a
better filly or just weakened a little bit in the final 80 yards.
"She did everything
right and it might turn out that the winner is a good filly but we will see
next time.
"The Prestige Stakes
looks like a natural progression and Charles Hills is very happy with her. She
is a progressive filly by a very good stallion and I'm sure she will run a very
decent race."
Other notables include
eye-catching Ffos Las maiden winner Valen and Chepstow scorer Wee
Jean, who is bidding to give Mick Channon back-to-back wins after Ollie
Olga's success last year.
The feature handicap on the
card is the £100,000 Betfair Cash Out Heritage Handicap (2.55pm) over seven
furlongs. A field of 19 will face the starter including the Richard
Hannon-trained Magic City, who is chasing a hat-trick at the course this
year, and impressive Newbury handicap scorer Glen Moss.
Betfair Cash Out Handicap
- Betfair Sportsbook: 13/2 Glen Moss, 8/1 Magic City, 10/1 Arnold Lane, Galician, Music
Master, Loving Spirit, 11/1 Monsieur Chevalier, Shebebi, 14/1 Head Of Steam,
Pythagorean, 16/1 Intransigent, Excellent Guest, Heavens Guest, Jacks Revenge,
20/1 bar *Each Way 1/4 Odds first 4 places
Betfair Spokesman Barry
Orr commented today: "Glen Moss got the job done easily last time out and
although this is a step up, he looked well capable.
"It is a strong
renewal and the International Stakes at Ascot may prove key in finding the winner
here."
Mount Athos continues his Melbourne
Cup preparation in the Listed March Stakes (4.00pm) over 14 furlongs. His six
rivals include Royal Ascot victor Camborne, course and distance winner Harris
Tweed and French Group Two winner Tac De Boistron, who is making his
debut for Marco Botti.
Ground
The going at Goodwood
remains Good.
Clerk of the Course Seamus
Buckley said today: "We had three millimetres of rain overnight which has
helped in maintaining the ground. Today's GoingStick reading is 7.5.
"The going has eased
slightly but I am still calling it Good. We have had a dry day today and it is
also be forecast to dry tomorrow.
"We should be
starting the meeting on some nice ground."
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 and 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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