> News Article
Canford Cliffs to let rip in Sussex
Jul 28 2010
A classic contest between a champion three-year-old and one of the world’s highest-rated four-year-olds, tonight’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes is ready to set Glorious Goodwood alight with what promises to be one of England’s best races of the year.
Brilliant colt Canford Cliffs has earned favouritism for the “match race” after consecutive Group 1 wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes but he faces stiff opposition from battle-hardened Rip Van Winkle. The Sussex has been billed as a match between the two stars but the eight-horse field also boasts the highly-talented Premio Loco, Dream Eater and Beethoven.
Despite the depth, most experts believe this is a two-horse race and some narrow it down even further to a case of Canford Cliffs versus the rest. Form suggests the Tagula colt should be too brilliant for this field, with his latest two wins establishing himself as the best three-year-old in Europe.
On the other hand, main rival Rip Van Winkle, despite his perennially high and somewhat unexplained Timeform rating of 134, has become something of a disappointment in recent starts. He has won just two of his eight Group 1 races and been thrashed at his past two by superstars Zenyatta and Goldikova. Rip Van Winkle has performed well against the immortal Sea The Stars, however, and cannot be taken lightly if he returns to his best.
The Sussex Stakes is the main race on tonight’s Goodwood program and one of two Group 1 events at the five-day meeting – the other, the Nassau Stakes, will feature the clash of Europe’s best fillies and mares on Saturday night.
Shane McNally
All times quoted on this web site are based on scheduled race start times.
Sky Sports Radio endeavours to provide correct and up-to-date data, though it is possible to encounter inaccuracies throughout the day due to unforeseen delays at the track.
