Enceladus could edge closer to Classic tilt with Goodwood victory

Royal Ascot hero Enceladus has the opportunity to further his growing reputation when bidding for a hat-trick in Thursday’s Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Joseph O’Brien’s colt looked progressive when scoring at the Royal meeting and with the runner-up Al Azd giving the form a boost by winning back at Ascot, Enceladus bids to emulate Merchant, who backed up King George V Stakes glory by winning this Group Three prize last season.

O’Brien said: “We’re looking forward to running him, it looks a logical stepping stone. He’s been in good shape since Ascot and it will be interesting to see how he gets on up in class.

“The form is working out well, as you would always expect for an Ascot handicap. I suppose it’s a big step straight into Group company, but it’s been done before so it might work for us.”

Riches

This race has proven a notable stopping point on the road to big-race riches down the years, with Cross Counter going on to win the Melbourne Cup after striking gold on the Sussex Downs in 2018 and Jan Brueghel striding on to Doncaster for St Leger success on his next outing in 2024.

The Town Moor Classic could enter the equation for Enceladus post-Goodwood – as it has done for many Gordon Stakes winners.

“We’ll take it a race at a time, but if he happened to win at Goodwood the St Leger might come into the thinking,” continued O’Brien.

“At the moment though we’re probably thinking at staying at 12 furlongs rather than going further too soon, but all options will be on the table.”

Disappointing

Joining Enceladus from Ireland is Ger Lyons’ Meld Stakes winner Geryon, while also among the protagonists is Ralph Beckett’s Derby fourth Bay Of Brilliance, who is looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the German Derby.

Alex Elliott, racing adviser for joint-owners Valmont, said: “We have to try to get him back on track and straight after Hamburg the knee-jerk reaction was to go straight to the Voltigeur (at York), but Ralph seems very happy with the horse and feels that with the ground being better it will help him.

“Germany was a bit of a write off, the ground wasn’t right for him and he went into the first bend in sixth and came out halfway down the back in last. Hector (Crouch) looked after him once it looked all over and it was a funny sort of race.

“He had a hard race at Epsom in the Derby and we’re hoping that followed by a trip to Germany hasn’t left its mark. But the only way we will find out is by running him.

“We’ve got great respect for Joseph’s horse who won at Ascot and looks to be on the upgrade and the other Irish horse arrives on the back of a victory, but the team at Ralph’s are happy with Bay of Brilliance and I think the race will suit being back in a small field after two races among the hurly burly.

“He’s won at the track before as well and hopefully it’s a nice spot to get back on track. We’re hopeful rather than confident but we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

Exciting

There is also Group-race action in the Markel Richmond Stakes where the Simon and Ed Crisford team, who sent out Vandeek to win this prize in 2023, unleash the unbeaten and exciting Flann Sunna against a talented cast of juveniles.

Ed Crisford said: “He’s won both of his races in nice style, but this is altogether a totally different test against nice horses with proven Group form so he will have to step up.

“He’s an unexposed horse with only the two runs under his belt and has a lot going for him, but this is a deep race and some of these have some serious form already to their name.

“His maiden win was good at Windsor and at Ascot he won superbly well, but it’s hard to know what he beat there and now he’s going into a race where there is proven Group form.”

Coventry fourth and fifth Cut A Dash (Richard Hannon) and Night In Vegas (Eve Johnson Houghton) appear to provide the sternest opposition to Flann Sunna, while Hugo Palmer’s Adaay Of Scarlett was second in the July Stakes most recently and also brings solid two-year-old form to the table.

READ MORE: Who are the five fastest King George Stakes winners at Goodwood?