Ascot runner-up Illinois leads the Goodwood Cup confirmations

Illinois heads a high-class field for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup as Glorious Goodwood gets underway with a stacked Tuesday card.

Illinois Heads Goodwood Cup Line-Up as Odds-On Favourite

Gold Cup runner-up Illinois is the star name among nine confirmations for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday, and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia who is the only three-year-old in the potential field.

In Trawlerman’s absence, John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy

Alan King will be encouraged by some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan who has not run since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May.

Other contenders include Dubai Future (third in the Gold Cup for Saeed bin Suroor), Subsequent (trained by Andrew Balding), and Sunway from David Menuisier’s yard, who is stepping up to two miles for the first time after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Menuisier Targets Vintage Stakes Glory with Goodwood Galaxy

Menuisier said: "He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he’d be better over further.

He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we’re hopeful he’ll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we’ll keep them on."

The Pulborough-based trainer also sends out Goodwood Galaxy in the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes. The colt impressed on debut at Salisbury earlier this month and is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group.

He’s really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I’m very pleased.

David Menuisier

"He’s really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I’m very pleased," Menuisier added.

"When you win first time out, you really only have two options: go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you’re giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it’s a good level, but at level weights."

"Goodwood is our back garden, so we’re going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we’re going there to try and win."

"Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I’m honest. It’s the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it’s nearly a dream come true."

Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O’Brien’s Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue, and July Stakes winner Zavateri (trained by Eve Johnson Houghton) among the key rivals.

Group Two honours are also on the line in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, featuring Ralph Beckett’s dual winner Kinross, defending champion Audience (trained by the Gosdens), and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil from Andrew Balding’s yard.