Two Tribes hoping to score again in Stewards’ Cup

Richard Spencer is hoping it is a case of history repeated when Two Tribes defends his Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

The five-year-old won the International Handicap before following up on the Sussex Downs a week later 12 months ago and although second to Jamie Osborne’s progressive Amazing Journey at Ascot this year, the same plan has been hatched by the Newmarket handler.

“It was a very good run last week at Ascot and I think it was his career-best on figures,” said Spencer, who will also be represented by Candy and Run Boy Run in the Phil Cunningham colours.

“There wasn’t much coming from behind that day and I think we bumped into a very nice horse of Jamie Osborne’s that was well fancied.

“It was always the plan to come back for this race after Ascot as long as he was fit and well.

“It was a solid race and he’s very fresh and well coming into this run. We probably wanted to be (drawn) higher, but we’ll take what we’ve got and hopefully run well.”

Another former winner and race regular is George Baker’s forward-going Get It, who finds himself housed only one stall away from his 2024 winning gate of 28.

Baker said: “He won out of 28 two years ago, and we wanted to be that side, so 27 is perfect.

“Hopefully, he can burn them all off like he did two years ago. He is coming back from a bit of an injury, but he seems in great form, so we are looking forward to it very much. He will love the ground.”

Holding leading claims according to the bookmakers’ betting lists is James Owen who is double handed with Wokingham fourth Far Above Dream and Hackwood Stakes third Soldier’s Tree.

Mick and David Easterby’s Sondad arrives on the back of a red-letter day at the Curragh and is a live contender for the north, as is Hugo Palmer’s Dubai Bling who burned off some useful rivals to win a competitive Ascot affair most recently.

Dubai Bling is joined in the line-up by York winner Stratusnine, with Palmer happy with his hand for the £250,000 contest.

Palmer said: “Stratusnine made all his own running at York last weekend, and he has not missed a beat since, although it is quite a quick turnaround.

“I am slightly concerned he might not come down the hill, because he loves flat tracks so much and has never experienced this, but it is an awful lot of money, so it is worth having a go.

“I think Dubai Bling will be absolutely fine. Candy, drawn in stall one, will probably give him a lead, and hopefully we can get past him.”

Wathnan Racing are also well represented with Wokingham seventh and eighth Evening Saigon (Hamad Al Jehani) and Realign (William Haggas) respectively, but it is the Haggas runner that has always been held in the highest regard by connections.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “He’s always threatened to be better than his mark. I think he does prefer a bit of juice in the ground, but it’s well watered and lovely here so we’re happy to take our chance.

“You need so much luck to win one of these, but I think he’s handicapped to win one and hopefully it falls right for him on Saturday.”