Royal Ascot Rivals Go Head To Head in Sussex Stakes
The Gr.1 St. James's Palace Stakes winner goes head to head with the runner-up Gustav Klimt in the eight-strong field along with, Expert Eye and Orbaan.
The son of Frankel faces his elders for the first time in Wednesday’s feature event and Gosden feels his charge is ready for the challenge.Without Parole will put his unbeaten record on the line this afternoon under champion jockey Frankie Dettori.
Godsen said: “Without Parole is in great form and has been working nicely. There is no doubt that he is progressing all the time and is a horse that will get further in time.”
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Gustav Klimt was beaten half a length into second place in the St James’s Palace Stakes and renews rivalries, while Sir Michael Stoute supplemented Expert Eye at a cost of £70,000 after his resurgent performance in the Jersey Stakes.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Expert Eye’s owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “We’re looking forward to it and it’s obviously interesting for us, taking on a son of Frankel, who is very dear to our hearts.
Top conditioner Andre Fabre trained-Orbaan has to make a big step up in class following a Listed win at Saint-Cloud.
Ted Voute, racing manager to Orbaan’s owner Prince A A Faisal, said: “Andre Fabre told me that the horse worked very well during his latest piece of work. It is fingers crossed.”
David Simcock’s Lightning Spear returns to the scene of last year’s crime. The 7YO was beaten just a length into third place in the Sussex Stakes 12 months ago. He was runner-up in the Lockinge and third in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
Andrew Balding’s Beat The Bank and David O’Meara’s Lord Glitters complete the field.
Andrew Balding was confident about his charge. “He’s been freshened up since Ascot and is in super order. As he gets older, he’s not losing any ability,” said Balding.
The Sussex Stakes rivals any of the top performances at Ascot and will be worth every minute of watching time.
Click Here To Watch Sussex Stakes Winner Race 2017
1st Here Comes When (A.Balding, J. Crowley), 2nd Ribchester (R. Fahey, W. Buick), 3rd Lightning Spear (D. Simcock, O. Murphy), 4th Zelzal (J. Rouget, F. Dettori), 5th Toscanini (R. Fahey, J. Doyle), 6th Lancaster Bomber (A.O'Brien, R. Moore), 7th Kool Kompany (R. Hannon, Jr.A. Atzeni)
1. Beat The Bank (A. Balding, J. Crowley), 2. Lightning Spear (D. Simcock, O. Murphy), 3. Lord Glitters (D. O'Meara,D. Tudhope), 4. So Beloved (D. O'Meara, A. Kirby), 5. Expert Eye (S. Stoute, J. Doyle), 6. Gustav Klimt (A. O'Brien, R. Moore), 7. Orbaan (A. Fabre, S. Sousa), 8. Without Parole (J. Gosden, A. Atzeni)
Distance: 1 mile (1,609 metres), Surface: Turf, Track: Right-handed, Qualification: Three-years-old and up, Weight: 9 st 1 lb (3yo);,9 st 8 lb (4yo+),Allowances,3 lb for fillies and mares, Purse: £1,000,000 (2018),1st: £593,932
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com