Cracking Entry Of 61 For Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes

A superb 61-strong entry has been received for the #300,000 Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes, Goodwood´s top race of the year run on Wednesday, August 2.

The Group One event for three-year-olds and upwards is one of the most prestigious mile contests in the European Flat racing calendar and consistently attracts the top-rated milers. This is the third year of Cantor Spreadfair´s sponsorship.

Proclamation, who scored by half a length from 2004 heroine Soviet Song in a thrilling finish last year when trained by Jeremy Noseda, is one of 12 entries for Godolphin, which has landed the Goodwood contest twice courtesy of Aljabr in 1999 and Noverre in 2001.

Other entrants for the Maktoum family´s operation include Silca´s Sister, a Group One winner last season and fourth in the 1000 Guineas, Opera Cape, last year´s Dewhurst third who ran unplaced on his return in the 2000 Guineas, and Iffraaj, who lifted the Group Two GNER Park Stakes at Doncaster last term when trained by Michael Jarvis.

Aidan O´Brien, who sent out the ´iron horse´ Giant´s Causeway to score in 2000 and followed up two years later with Rock Of Gibraltar, who was landing his sixth successive Group One victory, has the largest entry from any single trainer, with 17 horses.

They include George Washington, scintillating winner of this year´s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Aussie Rules, narrow winner of the French equivalent over stablemate Marcus Andronicus, and top filly Rumplestiltskin.

Richard Hannon, successful with 20/1 shot Reel Buddy in 2003, has two hopefuls entered this year in Hurricane Alan and Asset. The latter is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and impressed many on his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Easter Stakes at Kempton on April 1 before running disappointingly when ninth, beaten six lengths, behind George Washington in the 2000 Guineas.

Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said today: 'The Cantor Spreadfair Sussex is very much a possibility for Asset.

'We need to know a bit more about the horse before we can commit any further.

'While he ran perfectly respectably in the Guineas, Richard Hughes said it was definitely not his true running.

'At Royal Ascot, we are probably going to go down the Jersey Stakes route with him and drop him back to seven furlongs, although he is still entered in the St James´s Palace Stakes. We will see how we get on there before we decide whether to aim him at the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes.

'I am sure he stays a mile although he does show a lot of speed as well. We will know a lot more after Ascot.

'I would think he´s a miler - in the Guineas he was just a bit lacklustre and didn´t fire. He ran a bit free, was looking at other horses and ran almost like a green horse.

'We still think he´s a very exciting prospect.'

Jeremy Noseda, who trained Proclamation to land the spoils last season, has Irish 2000 Guineas winner Araafa, Lockinge Stakes second Majors Cast and impressive maiden winners Petrovich and Secret World entered.

Sir Michael Stoute, looking for his fourth Sussex Stakes win following Among Men (1998), Zilzal (1989) and Sonic Lady (1986), is responsible for six entries, the pick of whom could be Peeress, who had stablemate Rob Roy back in sixth when taking the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May.

Home Affairs, Final Verse and Jeremy, all Listed winners this season, and improving handicapper Mostashaar complete the Stoute contingent.

There is one French-trained entry in Krataios, trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias and successful in the Group Two Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud on May 1.

Other interesting entries are John Gosden´s trio Sleeping Indian, Iceman and West Of Amarillo, Mick Channon´s Flashy Wings, and Ed Dunlop´s Court Masterpiece, who landed the Group Two Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood last year, and went on to take the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp by a head from Caradak, now with Godolphin.

Alan King is hopeful that the progressive Levera, unbeaten in three starts this term and an impressive winner of the Listed Blue Square Stakes over seven furlongs at York on May 17, can make the improvement required to take his chance in the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes.

The three-year-old Groom Dancer colt won on his seasonal bow at Newmarket off a mark of 82 on April 18, and has since risen 25lb in the handicap.

King revealed today: 'It would be a nice surprise if Levera is good enough for the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes. He´s improving and if you´re not in you can´t run, so we thought we´d make the entry.

'We´ll see how he gets on in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot first. He´s now up to 107 with the handicapper so he´s going the right way. I´ve been very happy with him since York and he´s in good form.'

The Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes takes place on the second day of Glorious Goodwood which starts on Tuesday, August 1, and concludes on Saturday, August 5.

The five-day meeting is largely an all-ticket affair this year. The Richmond Enclosure, as usual, is for members and their guests, while admission to the Gordon Enclosure for all five days and in Lennox Enclosure (formerly the Public Enclosure) on the Saturday will be by advance purchase only. The only enclosure where tickets can be bought on the day is the Lennox from the Tuesday to the Friday.