No Excuse Needed for a celebration, as Sir Michael Stoute heads for Goodwood on Saturday
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute, fresh from this week’s Ebor meeting at York where he had three winners, should follow up at Goodwood on Saturday with No Excuse Needed in the big race, the Celebration Mile.
No Excuse Needed chased home Noverre here in the Sussex Stakes and should follow in the hoofprints of Among Men and Medicean, Stoute’s two previous Celebration Mile winners.
Tamburlaine showed some of his old forepower when narrowly beaten by Atavus at Newbury last weekend but No Excuse Needed looks the safer proposition.
David Nicholls sends Flak Jacket all the way from North Yorkshire for the Ladbrokes Handicap. The Nicholls horses are always worth following at this Sussex course and Flak Jacket is in top form.
Sunday’s Prix Morny at Deauville produces another clash between the racing superpowers when Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable, represented by Meshaheer, puts the massive Coolmore operation’s unbeaten Johannesburg to the test.
Johannesburg, favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas, puts his sky-high reputation on the line. He was impressive in the Phoenix Stakes last time and should be too quick for Mehshaher, winner of Newmarket’s July Stakes.
Another classic pointer for next year comes in the shape of the Luca Cumani-trained Gossamer in Sunday’s Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.
Gossamer has won her only race in great style at Newmarket and, although she has suffered a minor setback since then, should establish herself among the leading contenders for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.
