Glorious Goodwood 2016: Ulysses the Gordon Stakes choice
Published:
David Metcalf | July 26, 2016
Ulysses has plenty going for him in Gordon Stakes
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has a tremendous record in the Gordon Stakes and Ulysses can further enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the Group 3 contest at Goodwood (14.35).
The Newmarket handler has won the 1m 4f contest a record eight times courtesy of Electric (1982), Kazaroun (1985), Warrshan (1989), Alexius (2001), Maraahel (2004), Conduit (2008), Harbinger (2009), and Snow Sky (2014).
In Ulysses he has a lightly-raced colt who looked a top notch prospect when opening his account at the third time of asking in an 11-runner maiden at Newbury back in May.
After tracking the leader, the three-year-old took up the running going ominously well two from home before showing a devastating turn of foot to shoot clear and win easing down by eight lengths.
Derby came too soon
Ulysses was sent off just 8/1 for the Investec Derby on the back of that runway success and although eventually finishing just 12th of 16 to Harzand he held every chance until weakening two from home and was not knocked about once it was clear he would not be winning.
To me that race may have come too soon for the inexperienced Ulysses and I also felt that he wasn’t suited to the track.
The son of Galileo will appreciate the return to calmer waters and remains a very exciting prospect open to stacks more improvement after just four starts.
Ulysses has also always been held in the highest regard and having been given a break since Epsom this looks a nice opportunity for him to bag a first Group success.
Platitude another player for Stoute
Stoute has another major contender in the shape of Platitude.
The colt has not won since scoring on debut at Doncaster 13 months ago but has posted three really solid efforts this season.
After finishing fourth in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester, Platitude chased home Primitivo under a big weight in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot before going down by 1 1/2 lengths to Housesofparliament in a Group 3 at Newmarket.
The son of Dansili should be up to winning a race of this nature judged on those performances, but he seems to lack a turn of foot and is more exposed than his stable companion.
Qatari Hunter not to be underestimated
Qatari Hunter is on a serious upward curve and looks an interesting contender for leading Irish trainer Jim Bolger.
The colt comes into the contest on the back of four straight successes in handicap company, and having started off on a rating of just 74 is now rated 96.
This obviously demands much more, but Qatari Hunter is a tough sort who may well have more to offer now stepped up to 1m 4f for the first time and hails from a yard that doesn’t run it’s horses in Group races to make up the numbers.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Ulysses remains an exciting prospect and looks worth a wager to enhance Sir Michael Stoute’s excellent record in the race. Irish raider Qatari Hunter can give him most to think about.
