The Goodwood is a race that always produces a respectable field of sprinters, many of which bypass the Melbourne spring to get set for the race as a chance to break a Group 1 maiden.
That said, horses the ilk of Black Caviar and Takeover Target have been headline acts in recent years, helped by the change of conditions from handicap to set weights penalties.
Both Peter Moody and Joe Janiak were cognisant of giving crowds in the lesser racing states a chance to pay homage to their respective ‘people’s champion’. Neither hero disappointed when jumping as short-priced favourites.
But more often than not, this is a race for what we might call honest sprinters. Think of Platelet, Shadoways, Let Go Thommo, Super Elegent and Bomber Bill, among others.
Hucklebuck deserves to be at the top of the market after finally fulfilling his undoubted potential with an unbeaten spring campaign, culminating in an Emirates Stakes win. Lucky Hussler, second in the Emirates, has franked that form with a weight-for-age win this year, and will be one of his hardest to beat.
We know Hucklebuck is capable of running break-the-clock splits, and he’ll be right there if things go his way, but this will be no easy field to overcome.
Lucky Hussler has had a freshen up after an impressive run in the All Aged Stakes at the tail end of the Sydney carnival. There shouldn’t be much between them again, although Hucklebuck’s first-up record is probably just enough to give him the edge.
Under the Louvre beat Lucky Hussler back in October, and has matured into an uber-consistent sprinter himself, proving himself something of a specialist over six furlongs. His Oakleigh Plate placing earlier this prep confirmed his quality, which he followed up with a dominant Hareeba Stakes win from a difficult position. He appeals as the weight horse of the field.
Black Heart Bart is another Western Australia visitor looking to walk away with the Adelaide riches, and has been bolting in over in Perth. One of his victims in a four-run unbeaten streak in 2015 was Waterman’s Bay, who we saw take out the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield a month or so ago, after not being disgraced in the big Group 1 Flemington sprints.
Glenn Smith should get a beautiful run in transit on the Perth gelding from barrier seven, and will have him ready to pounce once they straighten.
Lord of the Sky is coming off a fourth in the Newmarket and a nose second in the TJ Smith, splitting Chautauqua and Terravista. Not bad form for a $13 chance in the Goodwood!
He’ll set the pace and defy all-comers, and maybe finally crack it for a 1200-metre win. At the very least, he shouldn’t be that price, and certainly shouldn’t be forgotten.
Gregers, Politeness and Vain Queen are all coming in via the Sangster.
Gregers did as she does, going forward and running well but finding one better. Politeness did as she does, getting back and coming home hard, only to fall short by a length or so. Vain Queen did as she does, connections walking away with excuses instead of the winners’ cheque.
All three will have a chance if they bring their best, but in a race where the speed should be genuine, you’d probably back the latter two ahead of Gregers.
Thermal Current split Politeness and Gregers two back, but is poorly weighted for the re-match with them both, despite coming off a last-start win.
Yesterday’s Songs is lightly raced and on the up, but doesn’t look ready to win this sort of race.
Smokin’ Joey hasn’t done a lot wrong since being transferred to Wez Hunter, and is defending his Goodwood crown off the back of solid form over the 1400-1600 metre range. He doesn’t win out of turn, and the fact that he’s had a victory this campaign might actually be a turn off, but he’s value odds.
Flamberge has been something of the forgotten horse, mixing it with the likes of Chautauqua and Fast N Rocking in recent times. He’ll appreciate carrying a lower weight in this sort of class, and is always a first four chance.
If looking for a real bolter, It Is Written could find himself in the finish if he can get a few breaks, although the inside draw won’t necessarily help his cause.
Selections: 1. Lord of the Sky 2. Hucklebuck 3. Under the Louvre 4. Lucky Hussler
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