Goodwood Day Two: Henri Matisse Leads Irish Charge in Sussex Stakes

Glorious Goodwood is underway and day two will be headlined by the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over a mile as Field Of Gold bids to confirm his status as the best miler of the current three-year-old crop.

We're taking a look at the Irish contenders bidding to thwart John & Thady Gosden's star turn alongside the other raiders headed for the Sussex Downs from Ireland on Wednesday.

Omni Man - Handicap (13:20)

Joseph O'Brien has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle as Omni Man attempts to defy top-weight in the opening handicap contest over a mile-and-a-half.

The Invincible Spirit colt opened his account by winning a maiden at Roscommon (1m2½f, good) in May and since ran well despite meeting trouble in the King George V Handicap over this trip at Royal Ascot.

He's gone up 3lb in the ratings and faces some progressive, in form rivals now.

Lady Iman - Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) (14:30)

Moore is a popular jockey on day two, this time being picked up by Ger Lyons to partner Lady Iman in the Molecomb Stakes as Ballydoyle has no contender.

The Starman filly has won three of her four starts to date, including a Naas Group 3 over six furlongs and was denied only by the smart Ballydoyle winner Beautify in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh in June.

Michael O'Callaghan's Steel Bull in 2020 is the only Irish-trained winner of this race in the last decade.

Henri Matisse & Serengeti - Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (15:05)

Aidan O'Brien saddles two in the Sussex Stakes, with Serengeti likely to be deployed as a tactical foil for Henri Matisse as the latter seeks to turn around a 31/2-length margin of defeat behind Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot last month.

Henri Matisse signed off last season with a Breeders' Cup win and was successful in Group 3 company at Leopardstown on his return before denying Jonquil in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp in May.

Turning over Field Of Gold is going to be a whole lot easier said than done, however.

Kayhana & Akechata - Fillies' Handicap (15:45)

A mile-and-a-quarter handicap contest with £38,655 for the winner, this race has attracted a pair of interested parties from Ireland in Kayhana and Akechata, representing Gavin Cromwell and Kevin Coleman respectively.

Kayhana is an Amo Racing filly by Harzand. She went close at Gowran Park in June on her first start for Cromwell after leaving Dermot Weld but was down the field since in the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is rated 95 and has top-weight to carry here.

Akecheta meanwhile is a consistent sort but with just one win (placed six times) from 11 career starts.

She was second at Epsom in June over this trip and has since been well held in a hot mile handicap at the Curragh.

Luna Mia — Fillies' Conditions Stakes (16:20)

O'Callaghan has his team in cracking form recently and will bid to improve on his 40% Goodwood strike-rate (2-5) when he saddles Luna Mia in the Fillies' Conditions Stakes over the minimum trip.

The Ardad filly was inched out in a maiden at Listowel over 6½ furlongs on her debut and has since run a sound race in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh when starting at odds of 33/1.

She sports first-time blinkers and has the aid of Rossa Ryan in the saddle.