Glorious Goodwood 2016: Galileo looks pure Gold in Sussex Stakes

Published:

David Metcalf | July 26, 2016

All systems go for Galileo Gold in Sussex Stakes

Galileo Gold can cement his position as the best three-year-old miler in Europe with success in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (15.10).

The Hugo Palmer trained colt had some very smart form to his name as a juvenile when winning three times, including in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at this venue, and put in an impressive display on seasonal reappearance when landing the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

After racing keenly in the early stages, Galileo Gold raced prominently until taking up the running two from home and staying on strongly to beat Massaat by 1 1/2 lengths despite hanging right.

St James’s Palace form looks solid

The son of Paco Boy then looked a slightly unlucky loser in the Irish equivalent when finding himself trapped on the inside two from home and allowing eventual winner Awtaad first run before keeping on well to be beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Galileo Gold then got back to winning ways when landing the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he beat The Gurkha by 1/4 lengths and had Awtaad a further 1/2 a length back in third.

To my eyes he was value for more than the winning margin and has nothing to fear from those re-opposing rivals, and another plus he will once again be partnered by Frankie Dettori who rides the track supremely well.

The Gurkha feared most

The Gurkha is a lightly-raced and rapidly improving colt who put in a stunning performance when landing the French 2,000 Guineas at Deauville by 5 1/2 lengths on just his third start.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the colt then stuck to task well to finish runner-up the in St James’s Palace after not getting the clearest of runs and lost little in defeat last time out when taking on older horses for the first time and finishing runner-up in the Coral-Eclipse over 1m 2f at Sandown.

The Gurkha looked the likely winner of the latter until being unable to find any extra close home and beaten 1/2 a length by Hawkbill and the drop back to 1m looks sure to suit.

Having not made his racecourse debut until April of this year, the beautifully bred son of Galileo also remains open to any amount of improvement and looks sure to give the selection plenty to think about.

Lightning Spear a lively outsider

Lightning Spear ran a blinder on seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot and looks a lively outsider.

The David Simcock trained five-year-old kept on strongly from off the pace to finish a 1 3/4 length third to American superstar mare Tepin in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and had some very useful types such as Ervedya and Amazing Maria in behind.

It was an excellent effort after 214 days on the sidelines and if building on it Lightning Spear looks more than capable of making his presence felt.

Related

For more Glorious Goodwood content, check out our dedicated archive.

Coral’s top tip: Galileo Gold rates a solid bet to land a cracking renewal of the Sussex Stakes. Lightning Spear looks decent each-way value.

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