Reaching Out

Now with souped-up prize money in search of future Group 1 status, Goodwood's G2 Qatar Lennox S. needs a star turn on Tuesday, but that may be unlikely now that the weather threatens to take the shine off the main protagonists and the 3-year-old Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) has been scratched as a result. If he handles the rain-softened conditions, the sophomore Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is the most likely candidate for honors following his impressive win in Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey S. over this trip June 17 and second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat stretching out to a mile at Chantilly last time July 12. “We'd be a bit worried if the ground was on the soft side, because he definitely goes better on firm ground,” trainer Charlie Hills admitted. “However, Jim Crowley was very happy with him on Friday morning and he has the form to win the race.”

Godolphin's recent buy Toormore (Ire) (Arakan), who was second in this 12 months ago when in a trough of form, seems to have rebounded this term with a second to his Sussex S.-bound stable companion Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 16 and fourth behind another Sussex candidate Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the June 16 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. “Toormore has been to Goodwood twice, winning the Vintage Stakes as a 2-year-old and being beaten only a neck in this race last year, and previous experience of this track is always a help,” trainer Richard Hannon commented. “The rain won't be a problem for him either, as the ground was very testing when he bounced back to run a blinder in finishing third in last year's QEII Stakes at Ascot and I have been really pleased how well he has run in his two races this year. It would be great if he could click first time up in the blue of Godolphin, who have bought him from Middleham Park since Ascot.” Hannon also saddles the decisive July 9 Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. scorer Tupi (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and he said of him, “He ran well at Royal Ascot in between winning twice in lesser grade at Newmarket, and remember he did finish second to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Vintage at this meeting 12 months ago.”

Godolphin also have the Jan. 22 G2 Al Fahidi Fort and Feb. 26 G2 Zabeel Mile winner Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the line-up, but he has to give weight away to all rivals and trainer Charlie Appleby is under no illusions as to the stiffness of that task. “He was our flagbearer in Dubai,” he said. “The positives for him tomorrow are that he's handled Goodwood before and seven furlongs is his ideal trip. On the negative side he's carrying a penalty, though that is for a reason, and the ground is a concern. We'll be keeping an eye on it and will see how it rides for the first two races, as he likes it quick.”