Glorious Goodwood: third day

today is the third day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and there could well be a success for German breeding in the main feature, the Group Two Goodwood Cup over 2 miles at 16.25 CET. Two of the ten runners are German-bred, Schiaparelli (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) and Caracciola (Barry Hills/ Eddie Ahern). The former was previously trained by Peter Schiergen for Stall Blankenese, for whom he won the German Derby in 2006; since being bought by Godolphin he has only raced sporadically, but he ran a good race at Newmarket last time and although it is his first attempt at this distance, he has always given the impression that he stays well. Certainly Caracciola, running for the first time for Hills as his usual trainer Nicky Henderson is currently suspended, would be the most popular winner of the day. He would also set a new record as the first 12yo in European racing history to win a pattern race. We would love to see this happen, but strictly on ratings he should not be able to defeat Schiaparelli. There are 2 other group races on the card, the Audi Stakes over 5 furlongs at 15.45 and a Group Three for fillies over 1 3/4 miles at 17.00. This latter race looks rather substandard and should be fought out by the 3 highest-rated fiillies Cassique Lady (Lucy Wadham/ Ryan Moore), Irish raider Suailce (Dermot Weld/ Jimmy Fortune and owned by the President of Ireland) and Starfala (Paul Cole/ Frankie Dettori), but th sprint race has attracted an enormous field of 18 runners, headed by the "Greek Freak" Ialysos (Luca Cumani/ Gerald Mossé), who however must give weight away all round. At these weights consistent Borderlescott (Robin Bastimann/ Pat Cosgrave), Kingsgate Native (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) - back in training after an abortive effort at stud - and Godolphin´s Dandy Man (bin Suroor/ Dettori), dropping in grade, could prove better bets. The effect of the draw, not yet quite clear, could well prove decisive here and will be even more important in the closing 5 furlongs handicap at 18.40, in which there are no fewer than 26 runners.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Mirrored - Roman Republic - Hyades
2. Race: Borderlescott - Kingsgate Native - Ialysos
3. Race: Schiaparelli - Enroller - Askar Tau
4. Race: Cassique Lady - Suailce - Princess Taylor
5. Race: Shamwari Lodge - Suruor - Brae Hill
6. Race: Laureldean Spirit - Ghazwah - Water Biscuit
7. Race: Rocker - Indian Trail - Le Toreador