Limited Field Set for Frankel and Canford Cliffs

We are getting closer to match race status and the so-far undefeated Frankel looks set to take a big step up in quality to tangle with the impressive four-year-old Canford Cliffs with only a pair of other contenders remaining in the mix for the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.

Easily proving to be one of the key showpieces of this week's Glorious Goodwood Festival, the Qipco Sussex Stakes could prove to be a kingmaker for the Juddmonte-bred Frankel ahead of his seasonal bow on British Champions' Day.

The race should ultimately settle the question as to who is the best UK-based miler currently running. The other contenders set to line up include the French contender Rajsaman who scored a Group 2 victory at Saint-Cloud back in May. Godolphin is set to enter Rio De La Plata for Saeed Bin Suroor and he'll be looking to improve off of his five lengths defeat to Canford Cliffs in the Queen Anne at this year's Royal Ascot.

Frankie Dettori is expected to take the mount on Rio De La Plata and it will likely be his first race since being sent to hospital on Saturday following the unfortunate breakdown of Rewilding in the King George VI Stakes.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Dettori's agent declared “I have not spoken to him since last night but he should be no problem for Goodwood.”

Frankel is odds-on virtually across the board with bookmakers listing a price anywhere from 8/11 to 5/6. Canford Cliffs is just bvehind with a price anywhere from 5/4 to 11/8. Rajsaman trades at 16/1 while Rio De La Plata trades at 33/1 to pull off a shock victory for the Blue Team.