The Goodwood – 2021

Track: Good Weather: Fine

Eleven have accepted for the $500,000 Group 1 Goodwood.  Seven geldings, two mares, one entire and one filly make up the field.  Tony and Calvin McEvoy have a strong hand with three runners.  Three of these had their last start in the Group 1 Sangster Stakes and three others come via the D C McKay Stakes.  The early favourite in the betting is one of the South Australian’s – Gytrash.    He resumes here having bone chip surgery and looks a deserved favourite having finished third in last years Everest before winning the Yes Yes Yes Stakes.  The second favourite is Behemoth. He had his last start in the All Star Mile in March where he finished third.  Craig Williams has a great affinity with him having won the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes and Memsie Stakes on him in the spring.

Instant Celebrity unleashed a powerful turn of foot to win the Group 1 Sangster Stakes last time and gets Jamie Kah here.  Kemalpasa has only missed a place once at this track/distance.  He maps to get the run of the race from barrier five.  Beau Rossa has been impressive winning three of his four starts this preparation and the blinkers go on  him for the first time.  Dirty Work is a Group 2 winner while Savatoxl bolted in last time and looks the likely leader here.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Behemoth

Behemoth is a two time Group 1 winner and has had a freshen up since his third in the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley.  He loves racing here and is very capable of sprinting fresh.  Has to lump the top weight of 59kg but he is a quality animal and has trialed well recently.

2. Gytrash

Was narrowly beaten by Trekking in this race last year.  He resumes off the back of a terrific spring winning the Concorde and Yes Yes Yes Stakes and finishing third in the Everest.  Has had bone chip surgery which is the slight query but his best makes him the one to beat.

3. Kemalpasa

Very consistent type trained on the track.  Won easily here last time and maps to get a good run.

4. Dirty Work

Huge run in the Oakleigh plate before heading to Sydney where he was outclassed in the Galaxy and TJ Smith.  This looks a slightly easier assignment but he still needs to improve.

5. Viridine

Is a winner of nine races however has placed just once from seven attempts at Group 1 level.  Has been up for a while and although he has Damian Oliver I think he is lacking the class to be a serious winning chance here.

6. Savatoxl

Lead and bolted in here over 1100m a fortnight ago.  He should be able to lead again here from an inside gate with a clean jump.  1200m won’t cause him any concern but he will need to handle Group 1 pressure.

7. Pretty Brazen

Closed off really strongly behind Instant Celebrity in the Sangster last time but this is harder.

8. Beau Rossa

Did a great job to drop back to 1200m and bolt in, in the Tobin Bronze against the three year olds last time.  Like him drawn out in eight and gets blinkers for the first time.  He is a very talented three year old.

9. Instant Celebrity

Anchored by the weight first up, then dropped down to 55kg and showed a lethal turn of foot to take out the Group 1 Sangster second up.  May still have some improvement to come and gets Jamie Kah here.  Better opposition here but carries 55kg again.  Major contender.

10. Prophet’s Thumb

Like the booking of Damian Lane and her drawn in seven given she likes to get back and sprint home, however think she lacks the class here.

11. Dollar For Dollar

Beaten favourite at Caulfield last time and was only fair behind Ancestry before that.  Not for me.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
9. Instant Celebrity	2. Gytrash
2. Gytrash	1. Behemoth
1. Behemoth	9. Instant Celebrity
6. Savatoxl	8. Beau Rossa

Group 1 Doomben 10,000 2021 (Doomben 1200m)

Listed Andrew Ramsden 2021 (Flemington 2800m)