Another remarkable Glorious Goodwood demonstrated why the meeting remains one of the highlights of the European racing calendar and one of World Pool’s flagship fixtures.
All week we again saw outstanding horses, trainers and jockeys perform on one of the sport’s most distinctive stages, while Goodwood’s unique atmosphere and challenging course combined to produce compelling racing.
SCANDINAVIA provided one of the high points on the opening day, becoming a dual winner of the G1 Goodwood Cup (3212m) with a comfortable performance under Ryan Moore. He stopped the clock in 3m 23.53s, more than two seconds inside standard, before drawing away to beat TRAWLERMAN (William Buick), who was badly hampered by a loose horse in the straight, by eight-and-a-half lengths.
That was a sixth Goodwood Cup for Aidan O’Brien, and the JUSTIFY colt, out of the leading GALILEO mare FABULOUS, is now firmly established among Europe’s leading stayers.
Another highlight was the performance of BOW ECHO, who justified odds-on favouritism in the G1 Sussex Stakes (1611m) to remain unbeaten in six starts. Billy Loughnane was briefly boxed in as the 12 runners turned for home, and when the gap finally came the NIGHT OF THUNDER colt had plenty to do on GSTAAD and OPERA BALLO. He got there by half-a-length.
It was a third consecutive Group 1 for George Boughey’s colt and makes him the first horse since FRANKEL to win the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m), G1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1594m) and Sussex Stakes in the same season. Watching a horse of that calibre win a race of that standing is exactly the sort of occasion that makes World Pool so compelling.
Meetings of this quality, generating international interest, are exactly what World Pool was built for – deep, competitive fields, world-class horses and a betting product that brings together customers from around the globe through a shared betting experience.
Closer to home, the 2026/27 Hong Kong season is now firmly in view. Following the resumption of trackwork at Sha Tin earlier this week, trainers and stable staff have returned in increasing numbers as horses resume their preparations after the summer break.
It is always an exciting time of year, with familiar stars beginning their campaigns alongside a new intake of promising imports who will soon be introduced to Hong Kong racing fans.
There is still plenty of work ahead before racing resumes at Sha Tin on Sunday, 6 September, but seeing the horses back on track is always the clearest sign that a new campaign is fast approaching.
Before then, our simulcast programme continues to offer top-quality international racing.
This Sunday (2 August) we will simulcast Preis der Diana – German Oaks Day from Dusseldorf Racecourse in Germany and Prix Rothschild Day from Deauville Racecourse in France. The Dusseldorf card forms part of the World Pool programme.
Dusseldorf is one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world, set in the middle of a forest, but it is also very demanding, and not every horse can handle it. The last 800 metres feature a steep uphill section and a very tight bend leading into the straight.
The G1 Preis der Diana (2200m) is one of Germany’s great Classics and one of Europe’s most prestigious races for three-year-old fillies. First run in 1857, this year’s running is the 168th edition of the race.
The first of five races from Germany is scheduled for 7.22pm (Hong Kong time), while the G1 Preis der Diana (2200m) is carded as S1-5 at 9.40pm.
The 2200m start is positioned very close to the first sharp right-handed bend, so a wide draw is a disadvantage, while those on the inside without much gate speed risk being shuffled back. Horses with experience of the course can have an advantage.
Sixteen fillies have been declared, headed by the French raider LAPOTHEOSE (Alexis Pouchin, barrier 10), supplemented after taking the G2 Prix Saint-Alary (2000m) in May. The WOOTTON BASSETT filly is the highest-rated runner in the field and is a win and place chance.
NIGHT BREATH (Sibylle Vogt), drawn in barrier one, is unbeaten and won the Listed Diana-Trial at Dusseldorf, so she brings exactly the course experience that counts for so much here. The filly is trained by Marcel Weiss and is a win and place chance.
Andreas Wohler, a six-time winner of this race, saddles SOREANGA (Eduardo Pedroza) and LADY EVI (David Liska), the latter a good second in the G2 Oaks D’Italia (2100m) in June. Both are place chances, as is SANTA CATARINA (Thore Hammer-Hansen), who won the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen (1600m) for Henk Grewe.
The feature race from Deauville is the G1 Prix Rothschild carded as S2-3 and run over the straight 1600m course at 10.40pm.
One of the most important races in Europe for fillies and mares from both a racing and breeding perspective, the Prix Rothschild has been won by champions including GOLDIKOVA, successful four years in a row from 2008 to 2011, and last year’s winner FALLEN ANGEL, who went on to win the G1 Matron Stakes (1600m) in Ireland.
Andrew Balding, whose KALPANA landed last Saturday’s G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m), saddles BLUE BOLT (Colin Keane), unbeaten in three starts this season including the G1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket, where she accounted for the best of the Classic generation.
The four-year-old filly is my pick to continue her flawless season with a fourth straight victory and claim her second Group 1 crown.
Source: Hong Kong Jockey Club