Goodwood Preview - Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes

The Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes, which takes place at Goodwood's Glorious meeting on August 2, is invariably a cracking race which brings together the cream of the milers from the Classic generation and the best of the older brigade. In the last ten runnings of this prestigious Group 1 contest there has been a complete even split - five winners being three-year-olds and five being aged four or older, which suggests that the younger challengers are physically ready to take on their elders by this point in the season, if they are good enough. In the absence of George Washington - some might say, even if the Ballydoyle colt was present - the Jeremy Noseda-trained Araafa is the leading three-year-old colt over a mile having followed up his decisive Irish 2000 Guineas victory with an impressive display in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Noseda, who sent out Proclamation to win this race last year before the horse in question joined Godolphin, said after his charge's win at the Royal meeting: "It will take a mighty good one to beat him." It's hard to disagree, and I really cannot see what can beat him in the Sussex Stakes, therefore the 9/4 on offer with Blue Square about the son of Mull Of Kintyre should be duly snapped up. The St James's Palace is generally a good pointer to this race. Four of the five three-year-old Sussex Stakes winners in the last decade either won or finished second in the Royal event en route - Aidan O'Brien's duo Rock of Gibraltar (2002) and Giant's Causeway (2000) both completed the double, while Godolphin's Noverre (2001) and Aljabr (1999) both filled the runners-up sport in the St James's Palace before landing this race. There were doubts as to whether Araafa would reproduce the form of his Irish 2000 Guineas win at Royal Ascot owing to the vastly contrasting underfoot conditions, as the going was heavy at The Curragh but lightning fast at the latter meeting. However, the Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar-owned colt was always travelling well in the St James's Palace, and quickly put the race to bed when Alan Munro pushed him into a clear lead two furlongs out, and he had the race when and truly sewn up by the time Stormy River got into overdrive and closed the winning margin of Araafa to two lengths at the line. It has to be said, the winner's authority was greater than the bare winning margin and, ominously for his rivals, he looks open to further improvement. And, to solidify Araafa's claims, Stormy River franked the form when coming up trumps in the valuable Prix Jean Prat next time out. Arguably the best of the fairer sex in terms of the Classic generation is Nannina, who left her below par effort in the 1000 Guineas firmly behind her when putting her rivals to the sword in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, beating Flashy Wings by two lengths. Interestingly, she won that race in a time nearly half-a-second quicker than Araafa took when prevailing in the St James's Palace over the same course and distance twenty four hours earlier. As such, she has to be respected but it should be remembered that Araafa wasn't being overly extended in the latter stages of his race, so I wouldn't suggest paying too much attention to the respective times. The John Gosden-trained filly, who needs supplementing for this race wasn't suited by the pedestrian pace when beaten three parts-of-a-length by 50/1 shock winner Rajeem in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting subsequently. That run is probably best overlooked, a remark which most certainly extends to Soviet Song also, as she was nowhere near her best that day, finishing a disappointing sixth. Although the owners of Soviet Song refused to blame the steady pace, it must have been this factor which led her to run so flat, as she had looked as good as ever when sprinting away with the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot previously. The winner of the penultimate renewal of this, Soviet Song lost no caste in defeat when coming home strongly to finish second to Proclamation in this last year and, once again, she will be a force to be reckoned with. But, she may again have to play a minor role as Jeremy Noseda holds the key once more with Araafa this time. The form of the Queen Anne is dubious. That was a tactical affair and I'd be surprised if Ad Valorem or Court Masterpiece, the first two home in that event, were to go close here, classy though they are. Peeress, who was fourth in that race, could easily emerge as the best of the trio given that she will get the strong pace she needs in the Sussex Stakes. Peeress's stablemate Jeremy, winner of the Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting, shapes as though this step up from seven furlongs to a mile will suit and he is certainly not without a shout, although he will need to take another huge step forward to lower the colours of the likes of Araafa on August 2. Verdict - 2pts Araafa @ 9/4 (Blue Square)