Racing:Dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo tops a 51-strong entry for the £300,000 BGC Sussex Stakes to run over a mile on the second day of Glorious Goodwood (August 1st).
Jim Bolger's charge, who followed success in the 1,000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile last month with victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh three weeks later - narrowly failing to land an incredible hat-trick when touched off in the French version in between - could face very stiff competition in the Group One contest.
A host of top international performers are entered, not to mention last year's champion two-year-old and stable companion, Teofilo.
Compatriot George Washington, winner of both the 2,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2006, was initially retired to stud after his three-year-old season, but is now back in training at Ballydoyle.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien is looking for his third BGC Sussex Stakes victory after Giant's Causeway (2000) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and has 15 entries to choose from, including French 2,000 Guineas victor Astronomer Royal and Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain.
Prior to Giant Causeway's success, the previous Irish-based
scorer was the Vincent O'Brien-trained King's Lake in 1981. The
22-strong Irish entry also includes Arch Swing, trained by John
Oxx, who chased home Finsceal Beo in
the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before disappointing behind
the same rival in the Irish version next time.
The Classic generation could also be represented by Eoghan O'Neill's Vital Equine and Dutch Art, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, who filled the minor placings behind Cockney Rebel in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, while Creachadoir, runner-up in both the French and Irish 2,000 Guineas, is another contender for the Jim Bolger stable.
Godolphin has taken the BGC Sussex Stakes twice with Aljabr
(1999) and Noverre (2001) and the Maktoum family's racing operation
is well represented with eight entries, among them Caradak, who
captured the Group Two totesport
Celebration Mile at Goodwood last year, and ex-Italian
Ramonti, who ran a blinder on his British debut when touched off by
the Michael Bell-trained Red Evie in the Lockinge Stakes at
Newbury.
Rod Fabricius, Managing Director of Goodwood Racecourse, said: "The BGC Sussex Stakes is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Flat season, and we are delighted with the quality of this year's entry.
"It would be wonderful to see Finsceal Beo take on George Washington and company at Goodwood on August 1st and, with South African raider Asiatic Boy adding extra spice, it is sure to be a fantastic race."
