Sussex Stakes Meet at Goodwood Betting Preview

All eyes will be on the flying mare Soviet Song in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday July 27, as she bids for back-to-back victories in the prestigious Group One contest. However, in Proclamation she will be squaring up against an up and coming three-year-old, whose last two performances suggest that he is poised to propel himself to the top of the milers' tree.Proclamation, who is a top-priced 11-4 at the time of writing, put in awesome display to overcome a variety of obstacles to land the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot at York last time. Drawn in stall 20 of 21 - therefore drawn out in the proverbial car park - the son of King's Best was then hampered four furlongs out, yet still managed to arrive on the scene full of running two furlongs out, before powering home to beat Camacho by two and a half lengths.Admittedly, that was a Group Three and Jeremy Noseda's charge will meet a different calibre of rival here, but the finesse with which he won that race left a lasting impression, and one which indicated that he destined for big things.Indeed, his performance in a Listed event over the Sussex Stakes course and distance on his penultimate start in May was equally taking. Produced from the rear off of a strong pace, Proclamation struck the front a furlong out and effortlessly put daylight between himself and his rivals, comfortably beating Tucker by three lengths.The colt seems effective on any ground, is improving, and has a lethal turn-of-foot. Personally, I think he'll take the step up in class in his stride and prove too good for Soviet Song.Don't get me wrong, the latter is a class act, as she proved when landing three Group One's on the bounce last season, including this race. James Fanshawe's charged showed the benefit of her pipe-opener at Royal Ascot at York, when recording her fifth career Group One victory and second Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month. Held up and travelling well, the five-year-old demonstrated her trademark burst of speed a furlong out and ran on well to beat Alexander Goldrun by two and a half lengths.That display left no doubt that she is as good as ever, and left connections pondering the Breeders' Cup Mile as the long-term objective. But I can't help feeling that she's vulnerable to a progressive colt like Proclamation.Despite being more exposed that the selection, you could still label Oratorio as a progressive colt. The son of Danehill hails from the Aidan O'Brien stable, successful in this race in 2000 with Giant's Causeway and most recently with Rock Of Gibraltar in 2002, and enjoyed his finest hour at Sandown last time when lowering the colours of Epsom Derby winner Motivator.In his now customary style, Oratorio looked to be labouring three furlongs out, but began to motor close home and, it has to be said, one with a bit up his sleeve in the end. However, that was over a mile and a quarter, and I believe that he will lack the tactical speed to add to those gains back over a mile. After all, each of his runs over a mile this season have seen him become outpaced at a crucial stage, before staying on when the race is virtually over. And all of those races in question, the English & Irish 2,000 Guineas', and the St James's Palace Stakes, were run at break-neck paces, so stamina certainly would have been brought into play. I'd be much more interested in Oratorio when he's back over the Eclipse trip, perhaps in something like the International Stakes at the York Ebor meeting.Nayyir, a close second to Soviet Song in this last year, made an encouraging reappearance when third to Vortex in a Group Three at Newmarket latest. He was bound to have needed the run following a nine-month absence, and is sure to go well with conditions likely to be perfect. On the downside, he's thoroughly exposed and looks set to play a minor role at best. French raiders always merit respect, especially when hailing from the Andre Fabre stable, therefore it would be folly to write off Cacique. The Khalid Abdulla-owned colt has yet to win at the highest level, but he is consistent sort that could well make the frame at decent odds.But he too looks a touch exposed. All roads lead to Proclamation striking a blow for the classic generation. The only consideration will be who will take the mount, as it is likely that Johnny Murtagh, who partnered him to victory at Royal Ascot at York, will continue his partnership with Soviet Song. But, rest assured, Noseda will source a high-class jockey, probably someone like Mick Kinane.Recommended bet: 2pts win Proclamation @ 11/4 ( Victor Chandler)