The highly anticipated Sussex Stakes sees Bow Echo and Gstaad lock horns for the third time as confirmations came through this afternoon.
Bow Echo remained unbeaten as he beat Gstaad by a short-head in the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot. It was a rough race from the off, as Bow Echo couldn’t adopt the early position. As a result, he was keen early on and had to race wider than ideal. Gstaad had the benefit of the inside route, suspiciously opened up for him by stablemate Puerto Rico.
Prior to that, Bow Echo produced one of the performances for the ages when beating Gstaad in the 2000 Guineas. He obliterated his other rivals by ten lengths there, and his ceiling mightn’t have been reached.
Aidan O’Brien confirmed two others, including Puerto Rico who has a credible chance on his earlier form. More trickery is expected in order to beat Bow Echo, as Dorset was also supplemented for £80,000.
Opera Ballo heads older challenge
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin will be keen to ensure this isn’t a two horse race, however. Opera Ballo has a bundle of ability and this quicker, sharper track will play into his strengths. The Ghaiyyath colt is seven from 10 in his career, with two of those defeats coming on the Rowley Mile. He ran an excellent race in the Queen Anne after setting brisk fractions up front, which will suit more here.
Queen Anne winner, Ten Bob Tony, was also confirmed this morning as he looks to make it a hat-trick. He was delivered inch perfectly by Kieran Shoemark, who also landed him late in the Tattenham Corner Stakes. He’s likely to be overlooked once more, but he cannot be discounted.
William Haggas has entered Lennox second Lake Forest. The No Nay Never gelding stayed on well in the QEII, his first try at the trip since 2024. He ran to a career best RPR on seasonal debut, bolting up five lengths in Listed company. However, he’s rarely convinced at a mile and he looks more likely to go to the Lennox.
Zavateri is a fascinating contender as he returns from a minor setback. He proved he’d trained to a degree when a staying on second in the Greenham. He won his first four races as a two year old, including beating Gstaad in the National Stakes. Given he’s a course winner, should he stay the mile, he cannot be written off.
Docklands, Qirat, Seagulls Eleven and Never So Brave were among the others confirmed.