One of Britain’s most anticipated social and sporting events gets underway this week, as Glorious Goodwood 2025 commences.
Racing‘s elite will go head-to-head in 37 scheduled races, 16 of which are Group races – with three Group One contests highlighting the week.
The second Group One race to run this week, will be the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, July 30.
It is Day Two’s feature, following the running of two Group Three races.
Iconic Course
One mile of the iconic course awaits horses looking to cement themselves into history and win a share of £1million in prize money.
This year’s renewal will see Field Of Gold hope to emulate his sire Kingman, who won this race back in 2014.
The Juddmonte-owned star is currently priced at 2/5 to win the Sussex Stakes and claim his third Group One victory of the season.
After reappearing with a win in a Group Three contest, joint trainers John and Thady Gosden’s colt was an unlucky loser in the 2000 Guineas, before making amends in the Irish equivalent and blitzing the field in the St James’s Palace Stakes, at Royal Ascot.
A ‘Grand Horse’
Previewing his colt’s chances, Gosden Sr. said: “He’s been a grand horse to train; he’s done nothing but thrive this year.
“The horse is athletic, he’s got great balance, and hopefully he’ll handle the track well. It’s very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that’s for sure.
“He’s in great order, and we’re looking forward to running him.
“It’s very much the obvious race to go to for him.
“He does have that great turn of foot, and let’s hope we get a clear run, and he can produce it on the day.”
Jockey Number Three
He will be ridden by William Buick for the first time. Buick will become the third jockey to ride him this season, with Kieran Shoemark’s replacement Colin Keane serving a ban.
The chief threat to a third Gosden success in this race (according to the market) is Rosallion – at 9/2.
This three-time Group One winner (once in France) will arrive off the back of two placed efforts this season, first third in the Lockinge Stakes, then second in the Queen Anne Stakes.
The latter race saw him pipped by 25/1 outsider Docklands – who will reoppose in this race at 20/1.
A Good Race
The week after the latter race his trainer (Richard Hannon) said: “I’m still not over the Queen Anne, he was in front before the line and after the line at Ascot, but it was a good race.
“He showed he’d improved from the Lockinge and in terms of his performance, you’ve got to be delighted, but it’s never nice getting beaten by such a small margin in a race like that.
“He’d be deadly over seven furlongs but we’re favouring the Sussex.
“He’s an extremely talented horse by a stallion (Dubawi) where anything is possible.
“He’s settling much better this year and seems to be more of a man.
“He’s got loads of speed and loads of ability, and he could turn up anywhere.”
Next in the market is Henri Matisse, who will reoppose Field Of Gold after the two met in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Though he proved no match for the Juddmonte colt at Royal Ascot, jockey Ryan Moore saw his mount run well in defeat.
Work Cut Out
He certainly has his work cut out for him to reverse the placings, but the seven-year-old finished his race off well once in the clear, defeating 2000 Guineas winner Ruiling Court in the process.
That Ascot run was his first in Britain, having been campaigned exclusively at The Curragh, before heading Stateside to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.
His seasonal reappearance birthed a Group Three win at Leopardstown, before he travelled to Paris Longchamp to claim his maiden Group One victory.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien confirmed his plan for Henri Matisse, when he said: “He’s being trained for the Sussex and is going good so far.
“We’re very happy with him and he is progressing.”
He is one of two O’Brien representatives making the trip over the Irish Sea, with Serengeti trading at a huge 200/1.
And he will play an important part for his stable-mate, as he will take up pacemaking duties and rival Juddmonte’s Qirat – who is 125/1 to win the race and will be performing the same role for Field Of Gold.
Three-time US Grade One winner Carl Spackler (28/1) rounds off the competitors, with Qirat (125/1) and Serengeti (200/1) likely to take up pacemaking duties for Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse, respectively.
READ MORE: Glorious Goodwood 2025 – Goodwood Cup analysis and preview
