Scandinavia and Trawlerman on course for Goodwood Cup battle Round two between heavyweights Scandinavia and Trawlerman in the battle for the stayers’ crown is the mouthwatering highlight on day one of the Qatar Glorious Goodwood Festival on Tuesday. The pair served up a race for the ages in the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Gold Cup, with the Ballydoyle four-year-old emerging with the win, and they are on target to go toe-to-toe again in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup over half a mile shorter. Eight-year-old Trawlerman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, will wear his trademark goggles in the preliminaries to protect his eyes as he did at Ascot and looks the stiffest opposition for the Ballydoyle, who will be defending his Goodwood title. Roger Varian’s Rahiebb, a disappointment at Ascot behind the big two, bids to reconnect with the form that saw him run out a good winner of the Yorkshire Cup in his previous race. Lazy Griff, the winner of the Listed Coral Marathon Esher Stakes at Sandown over this trip, and Queen Alexandra Stakes one-two Illinois and French Master bulk up an eight-strong field at the five day stage. Amiloc and Miss Alpilles make up the octet. Guineas Contenders Set For Vintage Test There looks sure to be movement in the 2000 Guineas market for 2027 after the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs, with O’Brien pitching both Haffner and Giant Sequoia into the mix in a field that has attracted a maximum field of nine entries. Haffner built on a second to stablemate and current Guineas second-favourite Abraham Lincoln on debut to go one better beating Godolphin’s Al Wathba in a strong maiden at Newmarket’s July meeting. Giant Sequoia, like Haffner currently 33-1 for next season’s Guineas, finished third on debut but returned to the Curragh to get off the mark in a maiden beating stablemate Oklahoma. Both the Ballydoyle colts could have their hands full with Godolphin’s Al Hudaiba after the colt got the better of Abraham Lincoln at the July meeting, winning by a head in the Group Two Superlative Stakes. Al Hudaiba would be unbeaten in four had it not been for unseating Tom Marquand in his second start at Yarmouth when he had the race at his mercy. Lake Forest Heads Competitive Lennox Stakes Entries As many as 16 could go to post for the Group Two Hkjc World Pool Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs, with William Haggas’ five-year-old Lake Forest already strong at the top of the market. The No Nay Never gelding returns to the intermediate trip after winning over seven on seasonal debut at Haydock before a keeping-on fifth behind Almeraq in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Haggas has also entered Sabre Strike, third to Qirat in the Criterion Stakes at York. Andrew Balding holds a similarly strong hand with Flora Of Bermuda, Marvelman and Never So Brave potentially going to post. Wathnan Racing and trainer Ed Bethell have entered impressive Newcastle scorer Paborus in the Goodwood Group Two, while last year’s shock 150-1 Sussex Stakes scorer Qirat holds an entry if he does not defend his crown in the mile Group One later in the week. Zavateri is another who has been given what looks like a provisional entry in the Lennox with Eve Johnson-Houghton on record as saying the colt, who suffered a setback after a promising return in the Greenham Stakes, was right on track for the Sussex. Last year’s winner Witness Stand, a winner by two and a quarter lengths from likely favourite Lake Forest, could aim to give Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole the perfect parting gift with a repeat win 12 months on. The pair have announced they are to go their separate ways next month with the latter setting up a Flat operation in Lambourn.
