The Group 1 Goodwood Cup is the highlight of Glorious Goodwood’s opening day. Upped to top tier status in 2017, there have been some riveting renewals in recent years. GG tipster Joe Napier previews this season’s edition, and gives his verdict.
Favourites
Since proving an underwhelming favourite in the 2024 Ballysax Stakes, Illinois has proven to be an extremely consistent operator. Three wins and five seconds have followed as Group success has been easy enough to come by; wins in the Queen’s Vase and Prix Chaudenay are testament to that.
However, four Group 1 starts have resulted in four defeats. On three occasions, they have been by two lengths or fewer, with his recent seven-length pummelling by Trawlerman in the Gold Cup still an immensely respectable effort on his first try at a marathon distance. The step back to 2m will suit and he will give his running.
There are two issues for favourite backers. One is that he is clearly an inferior specimen at this stage to the great Kyprios, who won this twice. Secondly, O’Brien has decided to declare the year younger Scandinavia as well, fresh from his extraordinary showing in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July meeting.
The three-year-old is a son of Justify, but has evidently inherited some of his damsire’s stamina. Galileo he is not, but his 8½-length triumph on the July Course was seriously taking and he looks ripe for the step up to 2m on that evidence. He was unlucky when fifth in the Queen’s Vase over 1m6f and stayed on to the line then too.
Contenders
Sweet William once rose through the handicap ranks to prominence in Group company among the stayers. The Gosdens have a fine record in this division, with this six-year-old contributing wins in the Henry II Stakes and Doncaster Cup last season, though a Group 1 breakthrough has evaded him, his closest finish being a four-length second to Kyprios a year ago.
He should run better than when comprehensively outclassed in fourth in the Gold Cup, but it is a bright, new potential stayer from handicaps who stands out among the Clarehaven contingent. French Master might still have something to prove, but he has improved with all of his six career starts to date.
That rise culminated with a surge to glory in the 1m6f Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in which he and James Doyle came from the proverbial clouds to win going away. That was a serious effort and suggested Group race competition would be a formality from then on. Going up to 2m likely holds no fears and he looks set to be well involved.
Outsiders
Not settling for two contenders, the Gosdens also run Military Academy. The four-year-old has never gone beyond 1m4f and has so far shown his best form on the all-weather, but he showed he may well have more in the locker when a neck second in Listed company here to the vaunted veteran Hamish last time out. He should not be dismissed, albeit a touch more rain in the build-up would help.
That would also be the case for both Sunway and Trueshan. At opposite ends of their careers, the former has proven almost as reliable as Illinois in filling a prominent position without winning, but it is alarming at how long his winless stretch now stands. An Irish Derby second and St Leger third, he has Classic class and could easily be a thorough enough stayer of 2m, but the question will be if he is good enough to get over the line in front.
Trueshan on the other hand has seen it all, winning this race in 2021 as one of three Group 1 successes. Alan King may well pull him out on account of the ground, for all he has won on good, and recent efforts do not encourage regarding a strong enough revival to win this.
Fellow nine-year-old Dubai Future seems to have improved with age though, winning the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup earlier this year and finishing a gallant third behind Trawlerman and Illinois in the Gold Cup. He was ridden to pick up the pieces that day and could sneak a place here too if similar tactics are employed.
Verdict
Illinois is as reliable as they come, but he is no Kyprios, for all he beat all bar one of his Gold Cup rivals by seven lengths last time. The issue is the other member of the field beat him by seven lengths, showing that he is eminently beatable by a classy stayer. That rival could emerge from a neighbouring stable as Scandinavia looked a horse to follow in this division after his Newmarket rout, but only Stradivarius has won this as a three-year-old since it became a Group 1. Despite being equally unexposed on the racecourse, the year older FRENCH MASTER could have the Ballydoyle pair’s measure. He was supremely impressive when winning in handicap company at Royal Ascot, suggesting he had loads in hand, so while this immediate step up to Group 1 company is ambitious, it looks warranted. Sunway has place possibilities as a likely stayer trying 2m for the first time.
- French Master
- Scandinavia
- Illinois
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