Godolphin Trio for Goodwood Godolphin´s trainer Saeed bin Suroor is set to be triple-handed in a fascinating renewal of the #30,000 Listed Hildon Stakes (7.00pm) over a mile and half at Goodwood Racecourse´s first evening fixture of the season on Friday, June 6. The classy trio consists of Al Shemali, last season´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe third Sagara and Eastern Anthem, who was last seen taking the runner-up spot behind Halicarnassus in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in May last year. Frankie Dettori takes the ride on Al Shemali, having partnered the four-year-old on his most recent start at Lingfield on May 10, when a close third to Red Rocks over 10 furlongs. The Medicean colt previously scored an impressive handicap victory at the Dubai International Racing Carnival in February. Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride on Sagara, while Ted Durcan is booked to partner one-time Derby hope Eastern Anthem, a well-bred Singspiel colt out of 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Kazzia. Bin Suroor revealed today: "Al Shemali was impressive when he won in Dubai and we feel the horse is doing well now and working well - he is in good form. Frankie takes the ride and was pleased with his effort at Lingfield last time when he ran well behind Red Rocks. "Sagara was third in the Arc last year and this trip will suit him but it will be his first start of the season and he will need the race. We will know more about him after Friday. "Eastern Anthem is working well and is another one who is improving. Physically, he looks much better this year than last year. I think he will get better with age. We are looking forward to a good run from him although he will also benefit from the race." The high-class field includes last season´s runner-up Shahin, trained by Marcus Tregoning, who was subsequently second to Papal Bull in the Group Two Princess Of Wales´s Stakes at Newmarket. Trainer John Gosden is set to saddle Raincoat, third in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last season, while fellow Newmarket handler Geoff Wragg has declared 2006 Derby second Dragon Dancer. The Luca Cunami-trained Speed Gifted won two from three last term and makes his seasonal debut, while Mark Johnston will drop Peppertree Lane down in trip after the five-year-old finished fourth over two miles in the Group Two Henry II Stakes at Sandown on May 29. The field is completed by the George Margarson-trained Group Three winner Young Mick and the progressive Maid To Believe, trained by John Dunlop. Last year´s renewal of the mile and a half highlight saw a competitive field of 10 classy contenders go to post. It was the Geoff Wragg-trained Ivy Creek who swept from the rear to land the spoils inside the final furlong, under Steve Drowne, to hold Shahin by half a length. The fantastic fixture is the first of three evening meetings being staged at Goodwood in June and commences at 6.15pm with the nine-furlong Elm Farm Organic Research Centre Amateur Riders´ Handicap (6.15pm). Also on the entertaining six-race card are the six-furlong Soil Association European Breeders´ Fund Maiden Stakes (6.45pm) for two-year-olds, the Wheb Ventures Stakes (7.50pm) over six furlongs, the mile and a quarter Ecologist Handicap (8.25pm) and the concluding Goodwood Farm Shop Maiden Fillies´ Stakes over a mile (8.55pm). The theme for Friday evening is A Taste of Goodwood, Sussex and Beyond. The evening brings together the Goodwood Farm Shop and Waitrose, who will tantalise the tastebuds of racegoers with a mouth-watering organic barbecue plus food fair to promote deliciously healthy produce. The Goodwood Estate, which has supplied food to the Dukes of Richmond for 300 years, is famed as the only completely self sustaining organic farm in Europe and has been in the vanguard of the organic and wholefoods movement for 50 years.
