Equinties - Sussex Gold

Gm Equinauts

We’ve had one of the hottest spells ever recently, the furnace above baking tracks and causing track records.

But rain is on the way. The scorched track will finally get some respite and the heavy ground horses will be licking their lips.

When conditions turn, you will not want to miss this newsletter.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

SUSSEX GOLD

Immediately after FIELD OF GOLD bolted up in the St James’s Palace Stakes last week, there was speculation regarding his next target.

In an interview with John Gosden in the press huddle immediately after, David Jennings of the Racing Post posed a question to him.

“You have a glorious first-world problem now in that he is a brilliant miler. You want him to step up in trip; what are you thinking at the moment?”

When all the press were waiting for him to mention the Eclipse, the Sussex was mentioned.

But according to Juddmonte’s manager Barry Mahon in the Post yesterday, he could go overseas. He said: "He's come out of the race well, he's started back cantering now, so we're all happy. There's no confirmed plan. We'll let the dust settle but it will be either the Sussex or Jacques le Marois. John and Thady will decide that closer to the time.

"He could go to the Juddmonte if that's the route the trainers want to take. The owners would be keen, so that looks very possible."

It’s the Sussex or Jacques le Marios before the Juddmonte. Lovely. With this news, is there any value lurking in the Sussex Stakes market?

ROSALLION (6/1) is unlikely to go and who knows the latest about LAKE VICTORIA (10/1). PORTA FORTUNA (10/1) holds just one entry, the Sussex, and we havent seen THE LION IN WINTER since his poor effort in the softening conditions of the 2025 Derby.

HENRI MATISSE could go, but is it worth looking at NOTABLE SPEECH at 16’s?

He bolted up in last year’s race, and while this will be a stronger race, he should be taking on a FIELD OF GOLD (if he goes) that is coming back off a freshen-up. It’s fair to say that he doesn’t love Ascot after two bad runs there, and he was stuck behind runners in the Queen Anne as well.

Could be one hell of a race should they all turn up!

1-2-3

The 1-2-3 from the Epsom Derby are set to take each other on again in the Irish Derby this weekend, and that is an interesting event for a number of reasons, both positive and negative.

The positive is that we know LAZY GRIFF and TENNESSEE STUD won’t give LAMBOURN the same rope out in front, so we could see the form reversed. They were fairly closely matched at Epsom, so a reversal in form is not off the cards.

What is slightly poor is the state of the race and the card, in all honesty. Four horses are coming from Epsom, so we don’t get to see how the overall form line stands up in the grand scheme of things.

The likes of GREEN IMPACT and PUPPET MASTER offer a difference in form to the table, but they are maybe not bona fide Group 1 horses.

And then there is the card at the Curragh on Sunday. It’s awful.

Epsom Derby Day was barely attended because of its raft of handicaps and measly Group 3, and Irish Derby Day is the same, only with two Listed contests replacing a Group 3.

It’s a weak day, and the crowd attendance will likely show that.

The Irish Derby may be interesting in its simplest form, but it’s a Group 1 in name only. You wouldn’t be surprised to see it at Lingfield before the Epsom Derby with it labelled as a “Derby Trial”.

Oh well.

ASCOT AGAIN

And finally, Ascot Racecourse will be treated to another Royal Ascot winner next month, as AMILOC is set to run in the £1.5 million King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

This is, ultimately, if conditions aren’t rattling quick, like they were in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes last week. Ralph Beckett was debating telling the relevant authorities to non-runner him on the morning of the King Ed, that’s how concerned about the ground they were (to be honest that’s the sole reason we took him on!).

Yesterday, Beckett said: “In retrospect, he ran on the quickest ground anyone is going to run on in England in the summer as by 5.35pm last Friday there had been plenty of sun on it. He’s handled it once, but I’d say it’s unlikely he’ll be asked to do so again.

“He’s in the King George and I’d say that we’d go there. It makes the most sense as he’s a course-and-distance winner, and while he’ll be stepping up in grade he’s been able to keep finding a gear or two.

"I'd have no idea where his ceiling would be as he keeps pulling out more with every run. The plan will be to go to the King George. If it doesn’t work for whatever reason, we’ll find an alternative.”

The form of beating ZAHRAAN and GALVESTON can be questioned, for sure, but he has some attitude, and a sudden downpour closer to the event could see him go close. 14/1 currently.

RISK ON

14.15 ENJOY THE NIGHT

Expensive yearling in a bad race. He didn’t get a run on debut so a line can be drawn through that. He’ll like the ground today and with some experience under his belt (albeit bad experience) he could run well at the price. Only 7 runners so a straight up win bet at 20/1 but small stakes advised as the market is indicative in novice races and this price whiffs a bit.